Cancer victim (9) appeals for help

By Kudzai Chikiwa

The mother of a nine-year-old boy from Bulawayo is appealing for US$9 000 to buy medication for her son to slow down the growth of cancer cells as he awaits to undergo a review after six months.

Clever Ngwenya, who is in Grade Two, had his leg amputated at the age of four when he was diagnosed with cancer.

In an interview, Mrs Sithembiso Ndlovu of Entumbane suburb said her son was treated at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare and needs to take gleevec pills while awaiting a review at Mpilo Central Hospital.

Gleevec pills slow down the growth of cancer cells in the body.

Mrs Ndlovu said her family cannot afford to buy the pills as she and her husband are unemployed.

“Each pill lasts for a month which means we need six of them before we go for a review after six months. Doctors said the pills help to slow down the growth of cancer cells,” she said.

“His father and I are not employed. Raising such an amount of money is a nightmare because none of us are employed. We have tried to source funding from family members but they also don’t have money. We appeal to well-wishers to donate any amount that they have for the sake of our son.”

Mrs Ndlovu said failure to buy the pills would mean that the cancer cells would continue multiplying in the body, putting her son’s life at risk.

She said a donor once bought them the pills which he took, adding that the Jairos Jiri Association is helping them pay his school fees.

Mrs Ndlovu said well-wishers can send donations to Ecocash number 0771084141 registered in the name Sithembiso Ndlovu or deposit the money into CABS Bank Account number 5888923006014822.  The Chronicle.