Yourbloodtypemakesadifference

26/12/2022

It is with broken hearts that we have to inform you that our beloved little Ray has very suddenly passed away yesterday. He was at home, doing exceptionally well after his battle with cancer.
He had had slight difficulty breathing and he was taken to hospital on Saturday where he was admitted as a precautionary measure. He seemed to be doing much better yesterday. Unfortunately around about mid day he took a turn for the worse and he was transferred to ICU immediately. The doctors struggled to resuscitate him and unfortunately our little Ray passed away. Our family is absolutely devastated at his untimely passing.

08/06/2022

Please join the blood drive at The Refillery 🙌🏼❤️

When: Friday 10th June
Where: Morningside Shopping Centre, lower entrance by the escalator
Time: 9.30 - 5pm

The 1st 100 people will receive an amazing goodie bag valued at R975 each:

- Refillery discount voucher to spend in-store, bliss balls and popcorn
- A delicious slab of Nova Chocolate
- Hussar Grill water
- Yum Baker vegan treat
- Sorbet R50 voucher
- Perfume from Bet On Better
- So Pure products ; Sports
wash, Air fryer cleaner
- Sample treats from Native ZA
- Consol USB or Consol socks
- PLUSH car wash is offering R50 car wash for those who donated for their Bling My Ride wash [usually R100]
- Motherkind samples [Wow Wow Wow]
R100 Laser Beautique voucher

Spot Prizes 🏅 We also have spot prizes for the day, so after you donate you can try your luck in our “bowl of prizes” and stand a chance to win some amazing prizes

- MotherKind R1000 Hamper
- Plush car wash – executive wash valued at R700
- Sorbet face masks
- Refillery hampers X 3
- The Laser Beautique R350 vouchers X 3
- More coming your way 😉

Treats and snacks also while you wait from Refillery, Plantsmith SA & more to come

It's going to be such an amazing day, savings lives and getting spoilt for it!
South African National Blood Service Morningside Shopping Centre

03/06/2022

Any assistance will make a huge difference for Takatso!🙏🏼

Calling Mack's Army! Help needed! 📢

Takatso is a beautiful 5 year old little girl from Roodepoort, Johannesburg, who was diagnosed with the same type of cancer as Mack in February this year. She is also being treated at the Donald Gordon Hospital.

She is also in dire need of a Bone Marrow Transplant to help save her life and by some miracle the incredible team at have managed to find her her match! The problem is that her donor is overseas and Takatsos medical aid won't pay for the costs of obtaining this international donation-a total cost of R800 000. If Takatso and her family can't raise this money she will not survive.

If you can spare anything at all please help her by donating to this incredible cause - this link will take you to her Back-a-Buddy Page where you can easily make any donation you would like:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/takatso-lesiba

Mackenzie was so fortunate to have been able to receive this life saving treatment and Takatso should not be denied this second chance at life simply due to costs and medical aid red tape.

If you are not in a position to donate please help us by making Takatso and her plight go VIRAL- just one share could help save this little girl 🙏🏻

29/05/2022

🙌🏼❤️🙏🏼

https://sandtonchronicle.co.za/315200/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-for-baby-rayaan/

Against all odds, Morningside’s little resident Baby Rayaan has finally found a blood stem cell donor match and under gone transplant

22/05/2022

In recognition of the life changing transplant..

22/05/2022

Thank you for the congratulatory messages and well wishes - your prayers, love and care for Ray is heartfelt!🙏🏼❤️

It’s day 4 since the transplant and Ray's white bloods are at 0 which means that he is neutropenic and is very
susceptible to infection as he has no form of immune system.

This is the most dangerous stage post the transplant, as during the next 10 - 14 days his risk of infection (even from the natural bacteria on his skin and in his gut) is extremely high.

(The transplant was done by means of a blood transfusion and Ray only had a slight allergic reaction as the donor cells were infused into his body).

These first 100 days are critical, and Ray needs to stay in complete isolation. He will remain in hospital for the next few weeks until engraftment has happened. We pray that Ray’s body accepts the donor marrow and starts building his new immune system.
🤞🏼❤️

We will keep you updated on Ray’s progress.

18/05/2022

Extreme relief as all went well with Rayaans transplant! He’s fast asleep and we thank God! ♥️

17/05/2022

The nurses help make the most tedious days better♥️

17/05/2022

No dummy’s for Rayaan… !

17/05/2022

The 7 days of intensive chemo is over and Rayaan has now reached "MRD negative", (less than 0.001% cancer
cells). This means that the transplant can GO AHEAD tomorrow!🙌🏼❤️

Saying “THANK YOU” to the donor, better referred to an an Angel or miracle worker, seems minuscule to the second chance at life for Ray. There are no words to express our appreciation for the gift of Life.❤️

The past days have been scary with some hiccups along the way : fever spikes, nausea and an erratic heart rate. The blood transfusion and the pain meds have helped him through.

Tomorrow Ray will get the chance for a new lease on life! The excitement and buildup is insurmountable! ❤️

Please keep Rayaan in your prayers.
🙏🏼❤️

11/05/2022

To our “Ray of Light” - Be brave and be strong! You are in our thoughts and prayers as day 1 of the brutal chemo starts today. ♥️ Lots of Love & strength!

10/05/2022

We would like to share the incredible news that against all odds, a matching donor has been secured and Rayaan’s transplant has been scheduled for later this month!

It is with great gratitude and appreciation to thank each and everyone of you who signed up with DKMS Africa as a potential donors and to all of those who have supported and shared in our fight to Save Rays life. You have made the difference!

Over the past few weeks that Ray was home he was able to rebuild his strength. He was closely monitored by his doctor, Dr Nadia Beringer, who ensured that he remained in remission. Ray thrived and reached his age appropriate milestones such as head control, sitting, grabbing and mimicking actions all while his beautiful smile melted hearts.
Meal times have been fun times as he explores new tastes and textures. His favourites are berries,cereal & teething biscuits.
God-willing, all will go well and our little fighter will be cancer free. He is in the best hands with an incredible team of specialists whom we have full faith in.

We will keep you updated.

There are literally thousands of people in dire need of bone marrow transplants and we urge you to please consider signing up to become a potential life saver if you have not done so already.

Please please keep donating blood as well as platelets South African National Blood Service as they are a crucial lifeline to Ray and the millions of other people in need.

We will continue raising awareness for all the fighters that need our help and we hope you will too. We are all in this fight together.

24/04/2022

BABY RAY NEEDS YOU : STEM CELL DONOR REGISTRATION & BLOOD DONATION DRIVE:

Polo Fields Blood Drive

Please join us at 35 Cullinan Close, Morningside - Clubhouse at 14:00-18:00 on Tuesday - 26 April 2022 to register as a life saving stem cell donor as well as becoming a blood donor to not only save Baby Rayaan but thousands of others who need YOUR help.

VENUE: 35 Cullinan Close, Morningside - Clubhouse
DATE: Tuesday 26 April
TIME: 14:00-18:00
DKMS Africa South African National Blood Service

22/04/2022

BABY RAY NEEDS YOU : STEM CELL DONOR REGISTRATION & BLOOD DONATION DRIVE:

Bryanston Country Club

Please join us at the Open Room at Bryanston Country Club (09:30 - 17:00 on Saturday - 23 April 2022 to register as a life saving stem cell donor as well as becoming a blood donor to not only save Baby Rayaan but thousands of others who need YOUR help.

VENUE: Bryanston Country Club - Open Room
DATE: Saturday 23 April
TIME: 09:30 - 17:00
DKMS Africa South African National Blood Service

21/04/2022

Please take the time to read this article on why Africa needs a more diverse blood stem cell donor register and how you can help 🙏🏼❤️

Also - make sure to join in TONIGHT at 19:00 on our Instagram live discussion with DKMS Africa & Olwethu Leshabane

https://www.artofsuperwoman.com/2022/04/18/south-africa-needs-a-more-diverse-blood-stem-cell-donor-register/

Patients who end up needing to find an unrelated matching donor, often find that their second chance at life is hampered by the lack of diversity on the global registry. This is why more ethnically diverse donors are needed: Black, Coloured, Indian and Asian people. Genetics plays a key role when it...

18/04/2022

Join us for an Instagram Live discussion on Thursday, 21 April 2022 at 19h00 with Olwethu Leshabane on why South Africa needs a more diverse donor registry.

20 people are diagnosed with a blood cancer every day and blood cancer currently accounts for 7% of all new cases of cancer diagnosed in South Africa in both adults and children. Some patients, like our Rayaan, need blood stem cell donations from unrelated donors who are their “genetic twin”. That genetic twin could be you! Find out how you can help and other blood cancer patients in one life-saving 5-minute step with DKMS Africa.