Personal message

Help Pregnant Mom with Breast Cancer (High-Grade Cancer, Invasive carcinoma)

My sister, Maxine Botha is a strong, brave, persistent, loving and intelligent 36 – year – old mother from Potchefstroom whose life went from excitement to tragedy in just 4 days. In August 2023 they found out that she was expecting their second child to only find out days later that she has a rare form of breast cancer. Initially my sister Max (Maxine) complained about severe breast pain in her right breast, and we as a family never once would have thought the outcome would be that it was an aggressive form of Breast Cancer. (Invasive carcinoma grade 3 is a high-grade cancer. It's the most aggressive type of breast cancer and more likely to spread and grow faster than other forms of breast cancer).

Maxine balances dual roles as a wife, daughter, sister, friend and soon-to-be mother of two children. In addition to these roles, she is a dedicated, compassionate, hard working social worker and a committed PhD student.

“My sister has this positivity about her, that if you are around her, you would never imagine the struggles she has  had to overcome.”

While our mother was pregnant with Maxine, she was rushed into hospital, having gone into labour at just 31 weeks. Maxine was a breech baby, coming out feet first. Doctors tried turning her with no success and so our mother was rushed into theatre and more than an hour later, with the help of the Gynaecologist, Maxine was successfully born, weighing just over 1.9 kg.

Being a premature baby had its fair share of complications,  to her start in life. Maxine was rushed into NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), and remained there for 7 weeks. Maxine was born with this amazing will to fight, by proving to Doctors that she can breathe on her own, but at just 10 days old she contracted Septicaemia and Meningitis, her weight dropped to 900g. Fear and anxiety over-whelmed the Doctors and Nursing staff to the point where they thought she would not make it through the night. Despite all the concerns Maxine  pulled through and started gaining weight and was released from the hospital weighing only 2 kg. By the time she was released from the hospital, she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and struggled most of her life just doing the simple things, but  if she put her mind to it she would make it happen despite all that she had to fight through.

Maxine first attended Frances Vorweg School for children with learning disabilities and Cerebral Palsy from age 2 until 12. Our parents was of the opinion that Maxine had more potential and they moved her to a mainstream school. In 2006 Maxine matriculated with a bachelors pass. That being said it was never easy being the child with a disability in a normal school. Yet again this tested her to extreme measures, were the kids would push her down the stairs and make fun of her on a regular basis. She would come home battered and bruised but not once did she ever complain. That being said enough was enough. Maxine had the courage to stand up on the stage and explain to the scholars and teachers alike, about the severity of her physical disability and the challenges she has to face on a daily basis, she got a standing ovation.

After school, she attended the North-West University of Potchefstroom, where she flourished and won a golden key award in her third academic year. Maxine graduated and studied further gaining her Master of Social Work (MSW). Currently she is a PhD Student, where she will gain her doctoral degree of Social Work.

She met her now husband in a small town of the North West, Wolmaransstad. They got married in 2014 and in July 2020(Covid) they welcome their first child.

To date she has had five rigorous chemotherapy sessions, a breast biopsy and the removal of the tumours in the breast and lymph nodes under the arm, the insertion of a chemo port and was most recently prescribed a pressure sleeve, all while prioritizing the safety and well-being of her unborn child. Since January 2024 Maxine has not been able to attend her full time job, due to numerous complications from the cancer and pregnancy.

All these necessary treatments have incurred unexpected expenses, exacerbating the financial strain associated with managing of her illness and preparing for the newest addition to their family. Your support would greatly alleviate the burden of these unforeseen costs and provide essential relief during this challenging period.         

In closing I would just like to say “Despite everything Maxine has had to endure she continues to draw strength from within herself and continues to be the happy smiley positive person she has always been.”

 

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