For the love of Alba the Brave

Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS & VIDEO - Looking back now and putting the pieces of the puzzling symptoms together, says Esther Jacobs Overbeeke, all the signs indicating childhood cancer in her little girl, Alba recently diagnosed with leukemia were there.

Four-year-old Alba, in happier times, graced the pages of the Mossel Bay Advertiser dressed in a little shark suit in support of her mother's shark conservation campaign, Keep Fin Alive.

Speaking at their home, where Esther has to keep Alba indoors not to put her already fragile immune system under further pressure, Esther says that her experience working at the Meningitis Trust in the United Kingdom helped her identify definite warning signs. Still, Alba having childhood cancer, was the furthest thing from her mind.

Alba started bruising easily and on top of a rash, which could have easily been made off as a heat rash, she developed red blood spots which didn't go away. This happened shortly before Christmas. Lucky enough to get an appointment at a local paediatrician, Alba's liver and spleen were found to be grossly enlarged. Blood tests followed and soon also the news that it was a necessity for her to get to the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town.

Once in Cape Town, the verdict at the hospital was clear from the onset. "They immediately knew she had leukemia, just from looking at her blood tests."

Treatment
Treatment started immediately and resulted in a stay of four weeks. "I had to organize people to bring us clothes. We only expected an overnight stay for a day or two."

Alba will undergo treatment for a total of two and a half years. "Alba is handling the treatment well, but every time we go, she is so scared almost petrified, but so brave when we finally get there. I have to explain the entire process to her."

She says she faces each day as it comes. "I find that easier that way. I don't want to read up on what could be, it is going to scare me and make this whole process worse."

Being an activist at heart, Esther believes that there is far too little awareness regarding childhood cancer, and how people can become involved to not only improve lives but save them by donating blood and stem cells for the treatment of childhood cancer.

Rainbow Warriors Wednesday
On Wednesday, 21 February Esther is running a social media campaign called Rainbow Warriors Wednesday. "We would love to see photos of people wearing rainbow colours in support of Alba and her journey, but also as a symbol of awareness of childhood cancer. You can even just post a rainbow emoji. We need to spread the message that in South Africa, we are in desperate need of blood and stem cell donations. People are dying because nobody is donating. It's such an easy procedure and it is free."

Esther says that seeing how many children get treatment at the Red Cross Children's Hospital is heart-wrenching. "If we can do our bit through raising awareness and getting donors, maybe we can help save the lives of some of the friends we are making whilst Alba is undergoing treatment."

For more information on how to get involved as a donor, visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za

To follow Alba's journey and to get involved in Rainbow Warriors Wednesday, follow her on facebook at Alba the Brave.

Watch a video below.