Fundraising for Isabel Rheeder Junior - Cancer Treatment

ABOUT

Thank you for taking time to read our fundraising reason. 

My brother and his wife recently found out that their 10 year old daughter, Isabel, had a brain tumour. It was surgically removed during an emergency operation at Bloemfontein Mediclinic on the 10^th of January 2024. The tumour was identified as a Medulloblastoma, a Central Nervous System tumour that targets children specifically.

It has not spread to any other part of her body and her spinal fluid tested negative for any tumour cells. This is a huge blessing.

In order to prevent this tumour from growing again, their oncologist, together with a team of international oncologists, decided that the safest type of radiation treatment for her would be Proton Radiation. This treatment is not available in South Africa yet. She had to start this treatment 36 days after removal of the tumour.

Isabel was scheduled to start her treatment at the Apollo Cancer Treatment Centre in Chennai, India, on the 5^th of February 2024.

They commenced with the treatment in India - 35 days after the tumour was removed - A miracle in itself to sort out flights, visas and accommodation in time.

The treating Oncologist started by doing radiation treatment to the brain (where the tumour was removed) and her spine. The adverse effects of the treatment made her very nauseous. She was submitted to the ICU several times. They amended her medication and found a solution that was better on her body. They are now doing radiation to the whole brain, until the 27th of March 2024 - her last treatment. She lost all her hair - she is very shy about this.

She celebrated her 10th birthday in India, away from her twin brother and two older sisters (her Grandma is currently looking after the family)

They will come back to South Africa end of March 2024. Isabel will be able to rest for a month and then she needs to receive chemotherapy over the next 12 months in South Africa (in a town away from her home)

As you can imagine, the flights, accommodation, and treatment in India as well as South Africa will have an extremely big financial impact on their family. This is a huge mountain to climb, but together we can assist Isabel’s parents to raise the funds and assist Isabel in her journey to healing.

Please open your hearts to this little Angel, Isabel Junior needs to know that we all care about her.