This little cancer fighter is looking for a bone marrow donor to save his life.
In January 2016, when he was just three years old, Liam Lotz was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) - the most common childhood cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects white blood cells.
His mother Benita Lotz says she discovered Liam’s cancer after noticing red dots and bruises on his skin.
He also complained that his legs were sore.
Liam underwent treatment for three years and four months before the cancer went into remission.
“For seven months we tasted a new normal. We were finally able to focus on doing all the things we missed out on,” says Benita.
However, the cancer returned in January and now Liam urgently requires a blood stem cell, aka bone marrow, transplant.
Benita says no one in their family or friends circle is a match for Liam and they are appealing to strangers to lend a helping hand.
HELP: Liam Lotz with his mother Benita Lotz. Picture: Supplied.
Kim Webster, a spokesperson for The Sunflower Fund, explains: “A patient has the best chance of finding a match from someone within the same cultural or ethnic background as them.
“We are essentially looking for Liam’s genetic twin and there is a 1 in 100 000 chance of finding this match.”
If you are aged 18-45, weigh more than 50kg with a BMI of less than 40, you could be eligible to become a donor.
“We need your help desperately, because really the only thing we want on our bucket list is to see our son grow up to be a courageous young man,” Benita adds.
A donor recruitment drive will be held at Durbanville Preparatory on Wednesday, 4 March, from 8am to 7pm.