A mother of an eight-year-old girl, who is set to undergo a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with leukemia in 2020, said she barely gets any rest while caring for her child. 

Ngozi Jullian Onyeneke, mother of Hulda-Power Shangeelao Gideon, said she has sleepless nights, with the longest she sleeps being three hours. 

Leukemia, a type of blood cancer, impacts the bone marrow, stopping it from producing healthy blood cells. 

Patients often experience fatigue, frequent infections, fever, and easy bruising. For Gideon, this meant she had difficulty attending school regularly and eventually had to drop out due to ongoing illness. 

Gideon is set to start her transplant in November, and her mother is hopeful for a successful recovery. 

While medical aid will cover all treatment-related expenses, Onyeneke requested assistance with non-medical costs, such as accommodation, food, and transportation, as she will need to stay with her daughter throughout the treatment period, which is likely to last until February 2026. 

“We are trying to raise funds through small activities like braais and selling lunch packs. We also must pay about N$56 000 for compatibility tests to determine which parent will be able to donate,” she explained. 

Onyeneke said she remains committed to staying strong for her daughter despite the emotional and physical toll. 

Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya confirmed that the government has a fund for patients fighting serious illnesses. 

“The ministry covers 100% of the medical expenses for the patients but not the donors or third parties,” said Kamaya. 

He shared that another young girl, Helena Shimbulu, is also waiting for a bone marrow transplant. 

Shimbulu has severe anemia, caused by her bone marrow’s failure to produce enough red blood cells. Her transplant will be done using stem cells donated by her younger sister. 

-vkaapanda@nepc.com.na