Fighting Cancer for the Second Time

For the second time in his short life, Gerhard Bezuidenhout is fighting cancer. His only wish is to be able to run and play like a normal 5 year old.
A childs life is carefree and full of exitement and wonder, for Gerhard this is just a dream. He is currently confined to a bed in the Universitas Hospital where he is undergoing treatment for Leukemia.

At the age of 9 months Gerhard was diagnosed with Lymph cancer. After surgery and chemotherapy he recovered completely. At the age of 3 he could start to enjoy his life, until 2 years later when he was diagnosed with Leukemia.

Professor David Stones from the Department of Pediatrics and Childcare of the University of the Free State says that the chemotherapy that Gerhard received initially could have caused the Leukemia. Seven out of a hundred people contract a second type of cancer due to the side effects of chemotherapy. It is rare but it does occur.

Prof. Stones says that Gerhard's only chance is a Bone Marrow transplant, without which Gerhard's chances of survival are very slim indeed. The operation is only available through the private sector and the cost has sky rocketed from an initial R80 000 to approximately R520 000 Gerhard's parents do not have a Medical Fund so they are appealing to everyone who can make a donation to help them save their little boy.