GIVE GRACEY THE GIFT OF LIFE: Fourteen-month-old, Gracey Green is in dire need of a stem cell transplant. You could be her match.
Gracelyn (Gracey) Green – an adorable toddler from Atlantis, Cape Town hopes to win over the hearts of thousands of strangers throughout the country in a desperate plea to save her life.
The fourteen-month-old was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML) – a rare cancer of the blood that affects young children and her only chance of survival is a stem cell transplant.
The South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), which is facilitating a donor match for Gracey, is imploring those of colour to get tested to see if they could be a possible stem cell match.
Zaahier Isaacs, Acting Head of Patient Services for the SABMR says Gracey is classified as an “emergency transplant case”, which means there’s no time to waste.
“In most cases, family members, especially siblings are generally most suitable, but even then, only 30% of patients are lucky enough to find a suitable match among their relatives. That’s why we must cast the net wider to the public to find the best possible match.
Without a stem cell transplant, Gracey might not make her second birthday.
“Due to the family’s financial circumstances, all testing and collection of stem cells will be funded via the SABMR’s Patient Assistance Programme, so they don’t need to be burdened further with any medical expenses. Everything is in place, now we just need a donor match.
“Brave little Gracey has already endured three blocks of chemotherapy that have been unsuccessful. She was diagnosed last August, and time is running out. We are relying on the kindness of a stranger to come to her aid.
To raise the estimated R500 000 needed to find Gracey a suitable stem cell donor, the SABMR, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, hoping the little one will be able to celebrate her second birthday.
Funds raised will be used to procure additional buccal swab kits (testing kits), and cover the costs of donors’ medical tests in the hopes to save Gracey’s life.
“When we see little children carrying such heavy burdens, we can only hope and pray that the donor community will open their hearts, to lighten the load. Right now little Gracey is waiting for her miracle, and we know that her knight in shining armor is out there” says Catherine Du Plooy, BackaBuddy COO.
Her mother, Shanique Green, died last June in a fire that emblazoned the family’s home in Atlantis. Minutes before her last breath, she handed Gracey to a bystander through the window and went back to try to save her grandmother, but this proved fatal.
Lorenzo Erasmus, Gracey’s father, says it took a long time to come to terms with Shanique’s death and then to hear the devastating news of Gracey’s illness was just too much to bear.
“Doctors aren’t certain how long she will live without a transplant, but our focus right now is to find the best match. The better the match, the better her survival rate after the procedure.” – says Lorenzo
Gracey with her dad, Lorenzo Erasmus. Image: Carte Blanche
Her aunt, Lizel Solomons says symptoms first appeared in July last year when she noticed Gracey’s unusually swollen tummy. After a GP examined her, an ambulance was dispatched, and they were rushed to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
“That’s when I knew something was terribly wrong,” says Solomon.
“A series of tests showed that Gracey had an enlarged spleen, liver and lymph nodes, which eventually led to a JMML diagnosis. It happens when certain white blood cells, called monocytes and myelocytes, don’t mature as they should. This can either happen suddenly or can be associated with other genetic disorders in some children. In Gracey’s case, it’s linked to the former.
“Since the diagnosis, she’s been on several chemotherapy drugs to slow the spread of cancer cells and have undergone chemo without any improvement, so now our only hope is a stem cell transplant.
“My plea is to everyone in our community to help find a donor for our little angel. There’s a match waiting for Gracey, but time is running out. We need every single person who can, to register as a donor. If anyone deserves a second chance, Gracey does.”
According to the SABMR, people of colour are heavily underrepresented in the registry and it is therefore much more difficult for patients with a diverse ethnic heritage to find a matching donor.
Isaacs says Gracey’s chance of finding a match is about one in 100 000, but the SABMR remains hopeful.
“The likelihood of people from mixed ethnic backgrounds finding a successful match is a mere 37% compared to patients from European descent whose chances are 72%.
“The procedure to donate stem cells is non-invasive and takes less than a few minutes to sign up on our website. Anyone in good health, between the ages of 16 and 45 can register.”
The SABMR (NPO) was established in 1991, motivated by the concern that although bone marrow transplants were a life-saving treatment option, they were only available to patients with a matching donor in their family. Today, the SABMR searches both locally and internationally for donors, thereby making collaboration with international registries and observing universal standards of practice essential.
To date, the SABMR has helped save the lives of over 550 patients with life-threatening blood disorders by matching them with healthy, unrelated bone marrow donors from South Africa and the rest of the world.
According to SABMR, Sustainability Portfolio Manager, Kamiel Singh, there are currently only 74 000 donors registered on the site to cater to over 57 million South Africans.
Create a crowdfunding campaign
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R310 Million.
Pictured above: Kristina Oliinyk (31), who was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, has been living in Vredehoek, Cape Town for the last 7 years.
Since Russia unleashed a series of unprovoked attacks on Ukraine on 24 February 2022, at least 102 civilians have been killed, and 304 people have been injured, UN Human Rights Chief, Michelle Bachelet, told Sky News.
Seeking refuge, over 100 000 individuals have fled their homes to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Moldova, Poland, and Hungary, to escape the devastation.
Kristina Oliinyk (31), who was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and has been living in Vredehoek, Cape Town for the last 7 years, was woken up at 4am by a distressing phone call from her mother as Putin announced the military operation.
She then turned on the TV, and watched the news in horror with concerned individuals around the world.
“I was heartbroken and felt so helpless” – says Kristina
Overcome with worry for her family, friends, and the people of her country who are currently living in fear, unable to access resources, have been displaced or injured, Kristina is appealing to the world not to turn their backs on her beloved Ukraine.
Many civilians are unable to leave, as any movement increases their risk of being shot.
My mom isn’t able to get to the bomb shelter 10 minutes from her home, in fear of losing her life, like so many who are being killed on their way to Poland.
My friend who is pregnant was faced with the difficult decision to stay home or leave, after a rocket burned down a house in her neighbourhood. Frightened for her life, and the future of her unborn child, she sleeps in a bathtub.
I have friends who stay in smaller towns, without bomb shelters who have been sleeping in their cars, unsure how tomorrow will be.
Thankfully, my sister who is looking after my gran who recently had a stroke, have both arrived safely in Warsaw.
Pictured above: A photo Kristina took on a recent trip back home. Kristina’s mom (far left), and her friends, are in danger in the Ukraine.
“Every hour our soldiers are catching the rockets from Russia in the sky and it’s very intense. It’s only the beginning of this unforgivable war. People are staying in underground shelters with their little kids, pets, disabled parents. Some people don’t have anywhere to escape to” – says Kristina
“Putin ignores the fact that Ukraine has been a separate sovereign country since 1991 when the USSR collapsed. He still lives in the past and says that Ukrainians and Russians are “one”. Human rights don’t exist for Putin.”
Funding Humanitarian efforts
To assist humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and soften the impact of the crisis on the lives of ordinary people, Kristina has launched a crowdfunding campaign on, BackaBuddy, to benefit Nova Ukraine, a 501(c)3 registered non-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening civil society in Ukraine.
“Ukraine is not attacking anyone, and they never tried to expand their borders; My people are at home, protecting what belongs to them. We were born in Ukraine, and we are not going anywhere. Ukrainian people need all the support they can get at the moment.” – says Kristina
The fundraising target, which is expected to increase as more help is needed, has currently been set at R500 000 ($32 700), to help Ukrainian people and hospitals with essentials.
“This war is not only against Ukraine but against democracy and democratic values of the independent country which has its own traditions, language & borders, which was fighting for their rights to exist for generations. We can’t just sit and watch while a catastrophe of this scale is happening in 2022. The only hope is for the world to hear us,” says Kristina
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R330 Million.
Since the start of her life, 8-month old, Liané Roux from Secunda, Mpumalanga has faced a number of serious health issues as a result of being born with 3 congenital heart defects.
Concerned that their daughter (who was 4 months old at the time) was showing signs of a fever, had difficulty breathing, and was tired all the time, dotting parents Ashley (26) and Quintin Roux (36), took her to their local hospital, where she was initially diagnosed with a Grade 5 Cardiac Systolic Murmur.
A week later, after seeing a heart specialist at Steve Biko hospital, the family learned that Liané’s condition was much greater anticipated, discovering that she was born with 3 congenital heart defects: VSD, DORV and TGA.
Liané’s condition in more detail:
Ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the heart, is a common heart defect that’s present at birth. The hole (defect) occurs in the wall (septum) that separates the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles) and allows blood to pass from the left to the right side of the heart. The oxygen-rich blood then gets pumped back to the lungs instead of out to the body, causing the heart to work harder. Source.
Double-outlet right ventricle, occurs when two large blood vessels don’t connect to the heart normally. In infants born with this condition, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body (aorta) and the artery that directs blood from the heart to the lungs (pulmonary artery) connect partially or completely to the right lower heart chamber (ventricle). Sometimes these blood vessels are also reversed from their normal positions. Source.
Transposition of the great arteries (TGA), is a serious, rare heart problem in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed (transposed). Source.
In urgent need of an expensive surgery
As a result of her condition, Liané is at high risk of getting respiratory infections and ultimately suffering heart failure.
After meeting with the Maboneng Heart and Lung Institute in Johannesburg, the only hospital willing to perform Liané’s surgery, the Roux family were distraught, realising that between R800 000 to R1 Million rand is needed to save their daughter’s life.
Proud parents Ashley and Quintin holding Liané
Reaching out to the public for support during this devastating time, the family has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to make up the astronomical cost of the surgery, as they don’t have medical aid.
Grateful for the supporters who have shared their appeal and made generous donations to the sum of R94 000, the Roux family are ‘counting the days’ until Liané can put her difficult first chapter behind her.
“Words cannot describe the level of fear and heartbreak we felt hearing the words ‘heart failure’, knowing we have a financial mountain to climb and a race against time, to save the life of our little angel. We couldn’t be more thankful for the community that has formed around us to help fix Liané’s heart” – says Quintin
An update 8th April 2022:
Liané is at home on oxygen after she landed in hospital again. We are raising against time as she needs the operation as soon as possible.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R260 Million.
Thobile Maphanga, a dance practitioner, producer, creative collaborator, and writer from Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, has been invited to represent South Africa at the prestigious Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Canada in June 2022.
The Festival Academy offers professional development and leadership training to festival makers globally as an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA).
Thobile will be one of only 35 participants globally to attend this amazing opportunity.
She will be participating in a seven-day training program for like-minded young artists who are interested in becoming festival directors, working in programming or related departments at a festival.
“I see the role of artists, cultural spaces, and festivals to be more vital now than ever and I am passionate about amplifying voices that have been othered and silenced.”
“I believe through festival platforms we can do this more frequently and effectively. I am eager to create spaces where people can commune and exchange ideas, thoughts, and provocations in a respectful manner & where diverse voices can be heard” says Thobile.
Thobile believes that her role as a mentee and choreographer for the Jomba Festival at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) has prepared her for the spotlight on the international stage.
To be able to attend the prestigious Atelier for Young Festival Managers event, Thobile has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, appealing to the arts community as she opens the doors for other local talents.
Since the launch of the campaign to cover her travel and related expenses, over R70 000 has been raised which exceeded her target, with the support of over 59 donors sending applause and well-wishes.
“By contributing to this fund, you are assisting not only my personal growth but helping our community to remain relevant, connected, and ever-growing through sustainable practices. I am exceedingly proud to be representing South Africa on this global stage ” says Thobile.
Messages of encouragement come pouring in for Thobile:
“All the best on this adventure. I will be watching from afar. I know only great things are coming your way. This is the start. Lots of love Sarah.” – Sarah Herd
“You are so inspiring, your thoughtful and creative energy impacts us all. – Osmosiiza
“Best wishes with this campaign, Thobile. You deserve this wonderful opportunity.” – Ismail Mahomed
“So proud of you, Thobs, a special person who has inspired me through our collective writing journeys.” – Tammy Ballantyne Webber
‘Umntu Ngumntu Ngabantu’
“From the moment I started this campaign I have been deeply moved and overwhelmed by the support that I have gotten from friends, family and strangers from across the globe. I am truly humbled by your generosity and love, and wish you all blessings in abundance.
In isiZulu we say ‘Makwande’ meaning ‘May it multiply’. May the blessings and gifts you have shown me multiply in you and overflow to all those who, like me, may need them”, says Thobile
Create a crowdfunding campaign
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R260 Million.
In September 2021, Jenna-Mae van der Vyver, an ‘exceptionally smart and compassionate’ 2-year-old girl from Krugersdorp, Johannesburg, was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1, an auto-immune condition, which typically appears during adolescence.
As Type 1 diabetes is not lifestyle or diet-related, being insulin-dependent will be a lifelong struggle for Jenna-Mae.
While in the ‘honeymoon phase’ as doctors coin it, Jenna-Mae’s insulin levels are erratic and hard to predict, resulting in many sleepless nights for her parents, Cherise (38) and Johan (47), who are worried that one day she might not make it through the night.
“Nothing is as scary as sleeping at night, hoping & praying she won’t go low, fall into a coma, and you won’t hear your alarm for her nightly midnight, 2 am and 4 am checks. Or, when you drive back from the shops (just 5 minutes) and you reach home to an unresponsive, unreactive child in the back seat… even though you checked her insulin levels 5 minutes ago… you shake her, scream at her to wake up and try to shove something sugary in her mouth without choking her… not cool mense, not cool.” – says Cherise
Jenna-Mae, with her mom Cherise and dad Johan.
Jenna-Mae handles her condition with understanding and bravery, taking pokes and pricks and injections with a determined attitude, and generally without complaint, according to her mum.
“When her insulin levels are high she is overly busy and unfocused but understands that she is unable to eat sugar or carbs as it will make her feel sick. When she is low she can be very tearful, emotional, tired, and clingy, but she will often tell us to grab her a Super C to bring her levels up” says Cherise
Jenna-Mae playing dress-up / Cherise Brady Photography
Found: A dog to join the pack
As Jenna-Mae is so little, and can’t always communicate to her parents how she is feeling, her parents found the perfect solution, in the form of a Diabetic Alert Dog.
Incredibly, Diabetic Alert Dogs can detect high or low insulin levels, using their keen sense of smell, up to 20 minutes before devices can.
To purchase a ‘paramedic pup’ and cover his/her food and medical needs over the next 12 months while in training, the van der Vyver family launched a crowdfunding campaign on Backabuddy, which exceeded its target by reaching over R65 000 kind donations from 67 donors.
Update: Puppy Training has kicked off
Thefunds raised have been paid directly to Honey’s Guide Dogs, a non-profit organisation based in Cape Town which does a phenomenal job of selecting, training, and matching these incredible canines with their ‘forever companions’.
Jenna-Mae is incredibly excited to meet her furry friend, who will forever watch out for her, accompany her to school, and wherever her heart takes her.
There was initially three lovely sighthounds (greyhound) pups up for consideration, but we are happy to say it looks like Jenna-Mae will be getting a gorgeous young female pup named Isla. Isla is ALSO a rescue from Sighthound Rescue and Lucy from Honey’s Garden always tries her best to save dogs that would otherwise not have a home. Double win!!
Isla is a very cuddly dog with a gentle nature but is also a very active and playful pup. Isla is in a wonderful foster home now busy with training and has already completed a very successful puppy training year. Our very smart puppy has now started full-time “hero training” to be a qualified service dog.
Part of the process will also be sending down frozen saliva samples from Jenna-Mae so that Isla can get used to the scent of Jenna-Mae’s “highs” & “lows”. We are getting there people! It is becoming so real! Thanks again to each and every single person. We are so thankful, more than words will ever express!
If the fundraising campaign exceeds its target, the family will use additional funds raised to purchase Freestyle Libre sensor devices, which will be able to read Jenna-Mae’s sugar levels more accurately and less painfully. These devices cost R1000 and last up to 14 days.
Create a crowdfunding campaign
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R330 Million.
Rudy van Dieman (26), a tour guide for Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, began 2022 with an ambitious goal: to achieve 365 summits up Table Mountain, for charity.
The challenge which began on 1 January 2022, and will end on the 31st December 2022, came about as a means to show youngsters the power of a strong work ethic and demonstrate that they can achieve anything they set their hearts and minds to.
“What youngsters in our society need today, is a good role model, to show them that there are opportunities outside of drugs. crime and gangsterism and drugs. I hope my challenge will be a beacon of hope for those in disadvantaged communities” Says Rudy
Rudy, who has worked with several charities since matriculating high school in 2014, is focused this year on uplifting a new organisation, Angels SA, located in his hometown of Mitchells Plain, Cape Town.
With a crowdfunding campaign launched on Backabuddy, Rudy hopes to raise R1 Million, which the organisation can use to purchase a safe house for children.
“In Mitchells Plain, there are only three known orphanages, two are for babies until five years, and after that, children are placed in safe houses for three months then move from home to house until they find families to keep them longer. With the safe house, we want to create a stable life and environment for children, where they can stay until the age of 18, before entering the job market” – says Rudy
Rudy on Day 3 of his challenge.
Since the launch of his campaign Rudy has raised almost R5000 with kind contributions from 17 donors.
Thus far, Rudy has completed 44 climbs up Table Mountain, covering a distance of over 100 km, and has been joined by more than 15 individuals supporting his cause.
Rudy with a group of students inspired by his cause
Rudy’s initiative is inspired by his hero, Andrew Patterson, who through his 365 Ubuntu Climbs challenge in 2018, raised almost R1 Million rand on BackaBuddy, to support Habitat for Humanity, One Heart, and The Sunflower Fund. Read More.
“I watched Andrew climb table mountain every day through the summer sun and winter rain, I could never understand why he would do this. The more I watched him, the more it became clear to me, ‘to focus on today and what you can do right now to make South Africa better’ as Andrew says” – Rudy
Rudy with ‘Mountain Man’, Andrew Patterson in 2018
“Rudy first contacted me in 2020 to tell me he wanted to tackle this challenge. Climbing Table Mountain every day for a year is a mammoth undertaking — but once I heard why he wanted to do this, I had absolute faith in him. Rudy is an incredible man with big dreams and an even bigger heart. I’m incredibly proud of him and supporting him with every step he climbs.” – says Andrew
Determined to make a difference
Working full-time, living with epilepsy, and struggling financially, in conjunction with the physical demands of his challenge, has been difficult but no less rewarding says Rudy, who is determined to keep going.
“Just as life is difficult for so many people, this challenge hasn’t been a walk in the park, but I remain positive, and through God’s grace I am finding balance. I am putting one foot in front of the other, concentrating on the important things in life and trying my best to create positive change” – says Rudy
One step at a time, Rudy is determined to reach his goal
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R290 Million.
