Help Axola and Lee-Ann: The urgent need for stem cell donors in South Africa

While young South Africans will be commemorating Youth Day, others diagnosed with blood cancer and blood disorders are facing a different kind of fight - one that needs the help from strangers to become blood stem cell donors. 

Twenty-year-old Axola May's life turned upside down following a diagnosis of a life-threatening blood disorder known as severe aplastic anemia - a condition whereby bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells.

The news devastated his grandmother and aunt,  who looked after him following mother’s death when he was only two. 

May's mantra is: “A negative mind won’t give you a positive life.”

Despite his illness, he remains hopeful that he will find a match. 

According to DKMS, he needs someone of his own race to be that match.

DKMS, a German Bone Marrow Donor Center, is an international nonprofit organisation dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders.

"Patients diagnosed with blood cancer or disorders have a higher chance of finding a matching stem cell donor within their own race due to HLA characteristics,” said Ngwako Serepe, communications officer for DKMS.

His family is reaching out for a donor: 

“It takes no more than five minutes of your time to register. Please, I encourage people to register to help Axola find his donor,” said his aunt, Bomukazi. May.

Another is 25-year-old Lee- Ann Scholtz, a mother from the North West, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, known as AML.

"When I heard the diagnosis, it felt like my world was crashing down. My first thought was my daughter; she’s only 6 years old,” said Scholtz.

“Accepting the reality of cancer was incredibly difficult for her. Her family was devastated, especially her grandmother, while her parents tried to stay strong for her,” said Serepe.

The hardest part of her journey thus far is being away from her daughter.

"My little girl recently started Grade 1, and I couldn’t attend her first day of school. That broke my heart."

Despite the challenges, Scholtz remains hopeful.

If you are between the ages of 17-55 and in general good health, register at www.dkms-africa.org/register-now and you could be the perfect match for May or Scholtz  or someone else in need. 

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