Creashy takes inspiration from support and 'just wants to live out the rest of her life now'
Creashy Maart, second from right, and her family
Image: Leon Knipe
When young cancer sufferer Creashy Maart shared her brave message of hope on Friday, she never thought she would make the impact that she did.
The 19-year-old warrior from Mitchells Plain was told last week that doctors could no longer do anything for her, after she was diagnosed with cancer in January.
Maart said she's received love and support from many who were inspired by her story.
“Seeing everyone share my story has been amazing.
“It makes me feel inspired and it’s heartwarming. And on Sunday afternoon as I gave a speech, I said that in the morning my chest was tight, and then I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it. Then something told me, ‘Do it, you can’.
“And after I made the decision, I felt so calm, and I felt better.
“My mommy is devastated, but she is getting so much support, and any parent would [be devastated].
“I just want to live my life now; it doesn’t matter whether it’s small or big. I just want to live.
“I am just grateful that I can talk, being here and being able to encourage and inspire and to give the next person hope.”
Maart was diagnosed with lung issues when she was just two weeks old and received a new set of lungs last year.
She explained on her Back-a-Buddy account that “they finally discovered that I have cancer (kaposi sarcoma) on the lungs”.
When she and her family were told that there was nothing more that they could do for her, she vowed to give others a fighting chance by donating R10 000 of the money that was meant for her treatment to help a four-year-old battling with stage 4 neuroblastoma and a nearly two-year-old battling with leukemia.
Speaking to the Kids-Can Foundation Facebook page, she said: “My message is to keep fighting. I want to help those who don’t have a voice and those who can’t speak for themselves…"
On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of people showed up in support of her struggle at a Park-Off, organised by Kids-Can Foundation and a number of car clubs, at her Woodlands home and Westgate Mall.
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Supporters at Westgate Mall.
Image: Leon Knipe