Madison Nortjé’s story
Fenitha Nortjé told us about the journey that started in 2018 when her daughter, Madison, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, and only the donation of a stranger’s bone marrow stem cells could save Madison’s life.
Madison, a 9-year-old girl, is the youngest member of a close-kinit family of four. The family resides in the quaint, rural town, Willowmore, in the Karoo. Fenitha shares that when Maddy started feeling very tired, taking naps during the day (an unusual occurrence) and had pain in her bones, they consulted with a local GP in the small town on 1 May 2018. The GP was alarmed by Maddy’s symptoms and blood test results, leading to a referral to a paediatrician in George. The paediatrician warned them that “it didn’t look good” and that Maddy might have Leukaemia. Maddy needed an urgent platelet transfusion, after which they reported to Rooikruis Hospital, in Cape Town, on 3 May 2018. A bone marrow biopsy was done, which confirmed the worst: Maddy had Leukaemia and needed a bone marrow stem cell transplant.
Fenitha continues that everything changed in the blink of an eye and their family was devastated. Maddy’s brother, Jerry, who is two years older than her, and described as her ultimate protector, was tested but not a suitable match for her. After four rounds of chemotherapy during four months in Cape Town, Maddy was in remission and the family could return home.
Maddy had bi-monthly check-ups for the first year after she was in remission, and after that every four months. In August 2020, in the midst of COVID, Maddy relapsed. The tiredness and naps were back, and she did not seem herself. Then the worst happened: It was confirmed that the cancer was back.
The family returned to Cape Town, and they were told that a bone marrow stem cell donation was their only hope. SABMR launched a search for suitable donors and two donors from Germany were identified as potential matches. Due to the COVID restrictions it would be nearly impossible to get the stem cells to South Africa. As an alternative treatment plan, Maddy required four rounds of chemotherapy, one of which the medical aid did not cover. After the third round of chemotherapy, she was very frail and ended up in ICU. Her body would not tolerate a fourth round of chemotherapy. Then, one day in January 2021, Maddy’s doctor informed the family that a local stem cell donor had been identified! From that moment, everything fell into place.
On 15 February 2021 Maddy was admitted to the hospital, and the conditioning therapy started. The transplant was on 25 February 2021, but Maddy developed Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD), specifically of the liver and skin. On 1 April 2021 Maddy was discharged from hospital but had to remain in Cape Town until that November to be treated for the GVHD.
Maddy is now a healthy little girl, and she is doing very well. Fenitha attributes this to Chantell Lombard, who donated her life-saving bone marrow stem cells to Maddy. SABMR has a policy that allows Patients and Donors to have direct contact three years after the transplant. They have been in contact since 2024, and the family has been able to express their gratitude for Chantell’s selfless gift of life.
Fenitha urges the public to sign up as stem cell donors to, like Chantell, give children and adults alike, a second chance to a healthy, fulfilling life.