HELP 7-YEAR-OLD JOSUA FIGHT CANCER

Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal

A Newcastle family has been dealt a blow after their 7-year -old son was recently diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer that starts in the white blood cells called lymphocytes which are part of the body’s immune system.

Josua Louwrens, who is a grade 2 learner at Huttenpark Primary School will be starting his first full chemotherapy session soon and is bravely taking on the fight.

Speaking to Spotlight On Newcastle parents, Josua Louwrens Snr and wife Christy Louwrens say that they are devastated but at the same time remain hopeful.

Recounting the events that led up to the diagnosis, Josua Snr explained that it all began when they noticed a little lump on the side of their sons neck in December.

“During the December holidays Josua and his 5-year-old brother Lukas went to visit their grandparents for a week long holiday on their farm. The boys returned home on 30 December and we saw a bump on the side of his neck. We then immediately made an appointment to see a doctor and we were prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics as he had an infection in his gum. The doctor was under the impression that the swollen lymph node was due to this infection,” explained Josua Snr.

After a week, neither the infection nor the size of the lymph node had improved, which led Josua’s parents to return to the doctor.

“It was then discovered that he had two holes in his teeth and it was recommended that it be removed by a dentist and and a stronger antibiotic was prescribed. After the removal of the teeth, the infection went away but the size of the lump had increased. After the third visit to the doctor, our son was admitted to Mediclinic Newcastle where a pediatrician then saw to him,” he said.

After being administered intravenous antibiotics the lump in Josua’s neck did not go away and much to the family’s dismay, grew in size.

The 7-year-old then underwent surgery and a biopsy was performed in order to determine the exact cause of what was going on.

The family were then given the devastating news on 28 January 2025, that their son had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

What followed was a series of urgent screening to begin the staging process, where he underwent CT scans, MRI’s and X-Rays. Josua then returned to theatre for a central venous catheter which goes all the way up to a vein near the heart. He was then transferred to a Pediatric Oncology Unit out of town.

The family then arrived with Josua at UNITAS Netcare Hospital in Pretoria on 31 January where he was booked for further medical procedures.

“January really has dealt us a double blow, first the news of the imminent closure of the company where I work and then the cancer. It is stressful because I am the holder of the medical aid. We are an extremely close family and always cherish the little things in life. Josua is a very well-behaved and shy boy who loves the outdoors and playing with hi younger brother,” he said.

The family explained they are trying to give their son a positive outlook although he is aware that he is unwell at the moment and that he has a long journey ahead of him.

” He is also scared and confused as he underwent three operations in a span of a week. He is missing his friends at school and just being at school. The principal, deputy principal and his grade two teacher all visited him at the hospital,” said Jousa Snr.

Josua will begin his first chemotherapy session in the coming week which is planned for a period of five or six days while admitted in hospital. He will then have to stay close to the hospital for another seven days in order to monitor any adverse effects of the treatment. If all goes well, he will be able to return home for a week and the will need to travel back to Pretoria to repeat the same cycle five more times.

If the sixth cycle does not put him into remission, the six chemotherapy cycles will have to be repeated again.

With the challenges that lie ahead, medical bills have already proven to be a heavy burden for the family to carry alone as not all procedures and medication will be covered by the medical aid.

Josua’s mother, will accompany him as he travels to and from Newcastle for Chemotherapy. They will require accommodation close to the hospital during his treatment. The family have now turned to the community to assist in raising funds for his medical care and anything else that he may require.

If you would like to assist the family ,kindly contact Josua Louwrens Snr on 066 231 6800 or you can email louwrensjosua1993@gmail.com

You can also click on the BackaBuddy link to financially contribute: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/josuas-lymphoma-fund