Purple Passion for Kiara

01/09/2025

The last 24 hours have been very tough. Kiara's diarrhea last night got more intense to the point that she didn't even leave the bathroom. At around 02:00 they could not find a blood pressure reading on either arms or legs, and very high pulse of over 180 beats per minute. Thanks to Dr. Buchner's quick and efficient actions and her decision to move Kiara to the ICU, they managed to stabilize her. Dr's decided to stop the tube feeding and the diarrhea has since subsided. She had lots of pain and the maximum dose of morpheme could not subside it. New meds were administered around 15:00 which got her to calm down, and finally hAve some sleep after 6 weeks of ongoing diarrhea. A port line has been inserted early this evening to assist with all the meds and the IV feed that she will receive. Kiara is currently still sleeping, but counts have all stabilized, and we are very comfortable that she is receiving excellent care.

A special thank you for remembering Kiara and all her friends on national cupcake day. No one fights alone.

Stay blessed 💜💜💜

01/09/2025

Spring day every year comes flooding back with memories of very traumatic moments in the children’s oncology ward.

This is what childhood cancer really looks like.

I miss Kiara immensely today, just like every other day. And today is also just a little more hard.

The last 24 hours have been very tough. Kiara's diarrhea last night got more intense to the point that she didn't even leave the bathroom. At around 02:00 they could not find a blood pressure reading on either arms or legs, and very high pulse of over 180 beats per minute. Thanks to Dr. Buchner's quick and efficient actions and her decision to move Kiara to the ICU, they managed to stabilize her. Dr's decided to stop the tube feeding and the diarrhea has since subsided. She had lots of pain and the maximum dose of morpheme could not subside it. New meds were administered around 15:00 which got her to calm down, and finally hAve some sleep after 6 weeks of ongoing diarrhea. A port line has been inserted early this evening to assist with all the meds and the IV feed that she will receive. Kiara is currently still sleeping, but counts have all stabilized, and we are very comfortable that she is receiving excellent care.

A special thank you for remembering Kiara and all her friends on national cupcake day. No one fights alone.

Stay blessed 💜💜💜

17/01/2024

Today would have been the start of Kiara’s last year at school. There will be no first day matric photos, no matric farewell, no prelims, no final exams 💔

Grade R was a happy year with pigtails, finger painting, glitter, dreams and giggles.

I love you as big as the sea and as big as the sky ❤️ missing you more than words can ever describe.

23/10/2022

“When you passed, it did not mean that you lost to cancer. You beat cancer by how you lived, why you lived, and in the manner in which you lived”

~ Stuart Scott

You are our light and inspiration. Your death left a big hole in our hearts and lives. Today, the 5th anniversary of your transitioning, we will remember your zest for life and your sunshine.

22/09/2022

6 years later, and we found the lock ❤️

01/01/2022

We remember your love for life, today at the ending of one year, and the start of another. Just as we do every day. ❤️

Love you and miss you Liefie, beautiful angel child, as big as the sea, as big as the sky.

01/09/2021

Today 4 years ago. ‘Spring day’ will forever be changed. A million triggers waiting just around the corner.

This is the real face of childhood cancer.

In the childhood cancer ward I learnt about hope. About fear. But most of all, I learnt about love. We cried, danced, prayed, paced, painted nails, baked cupcakes (yes, it’s possible 😁) and cakes (microwaves are amazing 🤪). We held other moms and dads as they said their last goodbyes. And we celebrated with those that got remission and a cure. We coloured in, and watched more Barbie movies than I can count.

Kiara is flying with the angels now. My heart is shattered 💔. And she is free from pain.

Kiara, your love makes me brave. We can do difficult things.

I love you and miss you all of my days ❤️ my beautiful warrior princess.

The last 24 hours have been very tough. Kiara's diarrhea last night got more intense to the point that she didn't even leave the bathroom. At around 02:00 they could not find a blood pressure reading on either arms or legs, and very high pulse of over 180 beats per minute. Thanks to Dr. Buchner's quick and efficient actions and her decision to move Kiara to the ICU, they managed to stabilize her. Dr's decided to stop the tube feeding and the diarrhea has since subsided. She had lots of pain and the maximum dose of morpheme could not subside it. New meds were administered around 15:00 which got her to calm down, and finally hAve some sleep after 6 weeks of ongoing diarrhea. A port line has been inserted early this evening to assist with all the meds and the IV feed that she will receive. Kiara is currently still sleeping, but counts have all stabilized, and we are very comfortable that she is receiving excellent care.

A special thank you for remembering Kiara and all her friends on national cupcake day. No one fights alone.

Stay blessed 💜💜💜

10/05/2021

This memory just somehow creeped up on my timeline. 4 years ago. A lifetime and a moment.

We were so positive that the stemcell transplant had worked. That God had heard our prayers. We never knew that cancer cells could ‘hide’. That despite our best efforts, our most fervent prayers, our faith, that Kiara would die. This moment right here broke our hearts in a million pieces.

Children should not get cancer. There should be better treatments and more research. Because this is not a fair fight.

Kiara was so tremendously brave. And how lucky we are to have known such love.

This is a very difficult update to do, but here goes:
On Thursday evening last week, Kiara's left eye started to fall closed involuntarily, which became worse over the next few days, and eventually the eye stayed closed. During this time, we were continuously talking to Kiara's doctors, and added some meds.

Kiara was admitted on Sunday morning after no improvement. The doctors then started with a battery of tests which included a very long MRI and a lumber puncture.

Today we received the confirmation that Kiara has relapsed in her central nervous system fluid. The fluid around the brain is a safe haven in the body, and since the new grafted bone marrow will kill any foreign cells, the cancer cells went into hiding in the cerebral fluid, and started multiplying. Her bone marrow and blood remain clear and cancer free.

Effectively the cancer cells have created an infection in Kiara's brain, and therefore the dropping eye. Kiara will receive 6 intrathecal chemo treatments after which she may require radiation (she has already received her first chemo treatment). Kiara has also started strong cortisone to assist with clearing the infection.

Kiara was discharged today, and looking forward to the Justin Bieber concert this Sunday. Even through all of this, Kiara still has her smile - how humbled we are to have such a courageous child!

This has been a very difficult few days, and we are reeling from this bad news. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

03/02/2021

Kiara had spectacular plans for her 15th birthday. She had planned to have a very bling and lavish Quinceañera - a Spanish coming of age party for girls turning 15.

Kiara had a special folder on my Pinterest - filled with pictures of all her party ideas - from dresses, to pink Lamborghini’s (some with starry interiors!), high heels, cakes, tiara’s and jewellery, possible locations (mostly exotic), and even after party outfits.

In honour of her wish, on this, her 15th birthday, we celebrate the spirit, s***k and love of life Kiara gifted us. A very special cake, some high heel dancing shoes, a tiara, and some bling to celebrate this extra special birthday.

We miss Kiara every day in unimaginable ways. And sometimes, we get the opportunity to honour her in very special happy-sad ways.

Happy 15th birthday Liefie ❤️

27/11/2020

Over the span of a million lives, and a billion years, I would choose you every time.

Our bond is unbreakable, our love is infinite.

23/10/2020

3 years today that our hearts shattered in the most unimaginable way.

We miss you, Kiara, our beautiful liefie child, today and every other day.

You make us brave.

Kiara received her angel wings this afternoon. She left peacefully and is in no more pain.

05/07/2020

I remember this day so clearly.

This was the day, my perspective on life changed. We had been cooped up, frustrated by small spaces and isolation. Tired of waiting for test results and blood transfusions and antibiotics to work.

After a particularly tough early evening, I took a walk outside taking a moment, looking for hope. As the cold Johannesburg air hit my face, it was like a voice spoke to me. It said “you cannot help anyone out of fear and anger by being angry. You have to love them back to hope. Love. Love saves us from fear.”

When I walked back into the room where Kiara was in isolation, I let love lead the way. I had to love myself and my brave, but scared, little girl back to hope. Together, we would love each other out of fear. That evening, there were many tears, many hugs and kisses, and lots of love. And eventually also hope.

These keychains were made with pure love.

Kiara's late night beading while waiting for transfusion to finish. Gifts for the nurses - gold beads represent child cancer, and the orange beads, leukemia. I truly have a very special daughter. ❤️