Johannesburg, South Africa — Jordan Veiga has spent most of 2026 away from school, friends and the ordinary routines of childhood after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on 31 January.
Eight months into treatment, Jordan is currently in remission and undergoing his fourth cycle of Blincyto immunotherapy. His family is now waiting for a suitable stem cell donor while trying to raise the funds needed to keep him on treatment until he can proceed to transplant.
A BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign launched by Cara Mego has raised R396,653 from 388 donors, including R25,000 in offline donations, towards a R650,000 goal. Jordan’s parents, Jenna and Mario, say the support has already helped fund four rounds of immunotherapy.
“Because of your generosity, Jordan has been able to continue accessing the treatment he needs,” the family wrote in a recent update to supporters.
A Treatment Journey That Changed Course
Jordan began treatment soon after his diagnosis and underwent three months of intensive chemotherapy. His family says specialised DNA testing conducted in the United States later identified an additional genetic mutation in his leukemia cells.
According to Jenna and Mario, the results showed that Jordan’s cancer was not responding to conventional chemotherapy in the way his medical team had hoped. His doctors then recommended Blincyto, also known as blinatumomab, as part of his ongoing treatment.
Jordan is now in remission, but his family says the aim is to keep him there while doctors work towards a stem cell transplant.
His medical team believes he may need at least two more 28-day cycles of immunotherapy while the donor search continues. According to the family, each cycle carries a co-payment of approximately R160,000, leaving them facing at least another R320,000 for the next two rounds alone.
“We need to do two more rounds,” Jenna says. “We have exhausted medical aid, gap cover, previous BackaBuddy funds and our savings.”
Alongside treatment costs, the family is also managing expenses linked to donor testing, specialist care, hospital admissions, travel and the wider financial impact of prolonged cancer treatment.
Waiting for the Right Donor
Finding a suitable stem cell donor has become one of the most uncertain parts of Jordan’s treatment.
Jenna says eight possible donors were initially identified. Only two possibilities now remain.
“We are in limbo waiting for a donor,” she says.
Jenna herself is a potential donor, but she is only a half match. She says Jordan’s medical team regards this as a last-resort option because of the additional risks and complications involved.
According to the family, all eight potential matches identified so far have been European. Jenna and Mario are of European descent, and she says ancestry plays an important role in HLA tissue matching.
At this stage, the family is not asking members of the public to register specifically in the hope of becoming Jordan’s donor. Jenna says the time needed to process new DKMS registrations does not align with the timeframe in which Jordan needs to proceed to transplant.
For now, their most immediate priority is ensuring he can remain on the immunotherapy that is helping maintain his remission while the remaining donor possibilities are assessed.
The support already received has made that possible.
“Your support was never just a donation,” Jenna and Mario wrote. “You have helped us pay for treatment. You have helped us navigate mounting medical expenses.”
A Child Waiting to Return to Childhood
Behind the treatment plans and donor search is a child who has spent much of the year separated from the life he knew before cancer.
Jordan’s parents describe him as a happy, kind and deeply empathetic boy with a dry sense of humour. His faith is important to him, he loves animals and he is happiest around water, whether at the ocean or swimming in the pool with his Labrador, Bear.
Since his diagnosis on 31 January, Jordan has largely been in isolation. He has not been able to return to school, spend time normally with friends or go out as other children his age would.
“What we want most is for him to get back to school and back to his childhood,” Jenna says. “He has been in isolation since the 31st of January, not being able to see friends, go to school or generally go out of the house. He is feeling very isolated and alone.”
For his family, reaching transplant is not only about the next medical milestone. It is about giving Jordan the opportunity to return to school, see his friends again and enjoy the parts of childhood that treatment has put on hold.
The 388 donors who have supported the campaign have already helped Jordan access four cycles of immunotherapy. His family is now asking for continued support as they fund the next two rounds and wait for a suitable donor to become available.
To support Jordan Veiga and his family, visit the BackaBuddy campaign.
