This.
This is why we do the research. Raising money for childhood cancer research has brought me into contact with a few truly lovely people. Today felt like a present, a surprise gift. A kind, generous filmmaker offered to make a short video to help promote our cause and he came today to make a little movie with some of our survivors. They are three young adults who left their lives at short notice to come and do some good. They leapt at the chance to help make a difference, to help the people who had helped them and to help other people who are about to enter the childhood cancer nightmare.
George Asamoah-Awuah and Confidence Magoma survived osteosarcoma and were both diagnosed more than ten years ago. That puts them in the minority – according to Dr Thandeka Ngcana’s research on this condition, no more than 20% of people will survive ten years after this diagnosis and here they both are, alive and thriving. It hasn’t been a walk in the park by any means – imagine being diagnosed with a life-threatening condition just as you are entering adolescence or early adulthood, and being faced with the certainty of major surgery, and having to navigate a new way of looking at yourself and life. Thanks to some dedicated healthcare professionals, skillful surgeons and decades of research, these two have survived when many others haven’t. They have their scars on the inside and the outside, and there are still challenges to face, but they are alive to face them.
Brooke Bennett came to our practice just as I was implementing our new protocol for Hodgkin lymphoma. She was fourteen at the time, and justifiably terrified. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of paediatric haematologist/oncologists around the country, we were able to give her a slightly gentler version of chemotherapy, and the possibly of avoiding radiation unless it was essential. In her case, radiation was essential, but again, thanks to the efforts of international researchers, we were able to give her a much smaller dose and field of radiation, thus decreasing her chances of developing hypothyroidism and secondary cancers in later life.
We were all nervous, but the lovely Vic put us at ease. He’s a mean cyclist and will be joining us in the Discovery 947 Ride Jozi on the 17th of November, but today it was his film-making skills which were put to use. He managed to calm us all down, be in the moment, and be our best selves for an afternoon.
Khumo Myezo, our multi-talented research assistant, did her usual behind-the-scenes magic but then shone in front of the camera. When we couldn’t remember what we wanted to say, she prompted us and made us sound far more intelligent than we really were. Brooke looks like she should consider directing as a career, and Confidence lit a little flame of hope, connecting with Vic to get advice about photography as a career. Thandeka and George were screen stars, and me, well, I avoided falling over my own feet which was an achievement. I need those feet for the race!
The real thrill for me came between takes, when the young survivors chatted to each other about their experiences. They came alive, they shared on a level that we doctors just couldn’t reach. They reached out and affirmed each other’s experiences, giving each other support in a way that only people who have gone through similar experiences can do.
At the end of the day, Thandeka said: “Some days I hate my job. Today reminded me why I do my job. Seeing these survivors makes my heart glad. I just want to hug them.” We did all hug – it was such a privilege to see “my” survivors as positive, strong humans, different from our patient-doctor roles. I was so proud of them.
Thank you to everyone who made movies with us today. It was a joyous experience, and there was unexpected meaning in the meeting of like-minded people. And thank you to all who have contributed so far – this is where your money is going: to saving the lives of people like Confidence and George and Brooke.
