Bulawayo Family Appeals for US$20 000 to Save Son Battling Blood Cancer

A family from Bulawayo has launched a desperate appeal to raise US$20 000 to enable their son to travel to India for urgent specialised treatment after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive blood cancer.

The patient, Ibongwe Moyo, became ill in October last year, initially showing symptoms that appeared minor before his health rapidly declined.

His father, Mr Brian Moyo, said the family’s concern began when Ibongwe started suffering from recurring pain in his groin and joints. Medical practitioners initially suspected juvenile arthritis, but repeated tests failed to provide a clear diagnosis.

“The pain would keep coming back and eventually became so severe that he could no longer walk properly. He was often sent home from school because he couldn’t cope,” Mr Moyo explained.

As the school term progressed, Ibongwe’s condition worsened, forcing him to stop attending classes altogether.

“There were times when the school would call us to collect him because the pain had become unbearable. At the hospital, he was given painkillers, but they only helped for a short time,” he said.

The family grew even more alarmed when the boy began experiencing frequent and prolonged nosebleeds, some lasting several hours.

Doctors at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) then advised further investigations after noticing that the bleeding was not clotting normally, raising suspicions of a blood-related illness.

“He was referred to a specialist who carried out more tests, and that’s when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML),” said Mr Moyo.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia is a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, causing the rapid production of abnormal blood cells that interfere with the body’s normal blood formation.

According to Mr Moyo, doctors have recommended chemotherapy and possibly a bone marrow transplant, with India identified as the most suitable destination for the procedure.

“The estimated cost of treatment is about US$20 000, which is far beyond what we can afford as a family,” he said.

He added that the situation has placed immense financial pressure on the household, which has five other children who are all still in school.

“This illness has affected the entire family financially. We have exhausted all available resources and can no longer cope on our own,” Mr Moyo said.

The family is now appealing to well-wishers, companies, organisations and members of the public for financial assistance or donor support to help save their son’s life.

Anyone willing to assist can contact Mr Brian Moyo on +263 774 564 718 or Ms Florance Damaso (Ibongwe’s mother) on +263 778 704 852, via direct call or WhatsApp.