Cupcakes Of Hope - Stories Of Hope

Kyle's story

As the world marks International Cancer Day this week - 4 February - a Shakaskraal teenager is in the last phase of his treatment and recovery from a rare form of this dread disease.

Fourteen year old Kyle Naidoo was diagnosed with *Ewing Sarcoma for soft tissue after a nagging injury to his right leg would just not go away. After months of complaining, his mother Jessica took him to Victoria Hospital and consulted with an orthopaedic surgeon.

The doctor told her that he believed Kyle had cancer but referred them to a top specialist Dr Keith Hosking based in Cape Town. The family gathered their resources together and made the trip. A few days later the diagnosis was confirmed.

"Throughout all of this Kyle remained strong and positive. He kept telling me that it was fine as long as they didn't cut his leg off," said Jessica.

After that it was back to Durban and the start of chemo therapy at Parklands Hospital oncology department to try to reduce the size of the tumour.

"At this stage we really started suffering financially. The bills had started mounting up and my husband's contract work had dried up. I did not know what to do. While I was at Parklands a lady there told me about an organisation called Cupcakes of Hope. I had not heard of them before.

"What I was really worried about was our bathroom. We only had a bath. How was I going to get Kyle in and out I knew what we really needed was a shower in place of a bath," said Jessica.

She summoned up the courage and called the head of Cupcakes of Hope Sandy Cipriano.

"She is like an angel. Honestly you have never met a more genuine person. We met and I explained everything to her. I find it hard to ask for help but I also knew that we were going to have to make another trip to Cape Town for the operation," said Jessica.

Not only did Cupcakes of Hope help to modify and upgrade the Shaksakraal family's bathroom, they also helped with groceries and later joined forces with another organisation called Wings and Wishes to get Kyle and Jessica down to Cape Town so that Kyle could undergo his much needed operation.

After 17 days in hospital including five in ICU, he was discharged. Then it was back to Durban and Kyle's second round of chemotherapy. As a symbol of solidarity the family all cut their hair short.

And so for now, the future is starting to look brighter as Kyle's X rays remain clear but he still has to go to Cape Town for a week of intense physiotherapy.

"As Cupcakes of Hope, we really try to assist as much as possible, finding out the family's specific needs and try as much as possible to help fit the bill. Kyle's story is a story of hope and courage. He truly is a warrior," said Sandy.