Help Leané fight Leukemia

21/10/2026

PRAISE GOD: NO EBV, NO CANCER & PREPARING TO GO HOME! 💗😭🎉🏡

Hello friends and family,
We have some absolutely AMAZING news to share! Our hearts are bursting with gratitude and joy! 🙏🏻❤️✨

The Results Are In:
Leané has officially completed her chemotherapy and booster treatments, and her doctors are thrilled with her progress. We can finally say these miraculous words:

THERE IS NO TRACE OF EBV OR CANCER IN HER BLOOD! 🥹🙌🏻🎗️

What an overwhelming blessing and a true testimony to God’s faithfulness, healing hand, and mercy.

Next Step: Heading Home Next Week! 🏡❤️

Leané has developed a small rash that the medical team is keeping a close eye on, but if everything remains clear and stable at her upcoming check-up, Leané and Melissa will finally be allowed to pack up and head HOME next week!

After months away from White River, separated from Riaan, the boys, and the comfort of home since June, this is the answered prayer we have longed for. We are praying with everything in us that this final step goes smoothly so our family can finally be reunited under one roof. 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦🌸

Our God is an AWESOME God! 🙌🏻✨

He has carried them through the deepest valleys, provided supernatural strength when they felt they had none left, and surrounded them with grace through the hardest chapter of their lives.

To Our Incredible Village 🤍:

To every single person who has prayed, donated, sent encouraging messages, or held Leané and Melissa in your hearts—THANK YOU from the very bottom of our hearts. You have been a steady light in our darkest days, a constant reminder that we are never alone, and a living example of God’s love in action. You have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us in this fight, and we will forever be grateful for you. 🙏🏻💕

Supporting the Final Stretch 🤝🎒

While the finish line to get home is right in front of us, the journey of post-transplant recovery, routine check-ups, and transition costs continues. If you would like to help support Leané and Melissa as they make this vital transition back home, you can contribute or share her BackaBuddy campaign here: 👇
🔗
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-lean-haar-stryd-teen-leukemia-wen

We will keep everyone updated right after Leané’s next appointment once we have the green light from her final check-up.

Thank You, Lord, for this good news. Thank You for the incredible people You placed around us. And thank You for carrying us when we could not carry ourselves.

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
— Psalm 126:3 💕🕊️

🎒

02/10/2026

Standing in the Gap for Leané & Melissa: An Urgent Prayer & Support Request 🌸🎗️❤️

Hello family and friends,
We are checking in with an update on our brave Leané, and asking our incredible community to surround her and her mom, Melissa, with an extra wave of love, prayers, and support during a particularly heavy stretch.

Medical Update:

Unfortunately, Leané’s EBV levels remain elevated, which means her treatment path has required an additional round of chemo. Yesterday, she bravely completed her 3rd round of treatment to target and bring down the virus so her recovering immune system can stay safe. 🏥🩺

The Emotional & Financial Toll:

This has become an extraordinarily difficult and exhausting season for both Leané and Melissa. Having been away from home, family, and normal life in White River since June, the physical fatigue and homesickness are weighing heavily on their hearts. They miss home, Riaan, the boys, and their daily life more than words can express. ❤️🏠

Staying in Pretoria away from home for months on end while navigating weekly treatments, hospital visits, specialized care, and daily living costs brings a massive financial burden. Right now, they truly need our village to wrap around them.

How You Can Direct Your Support Today 🤝🎒

If you have it on your heart to help ease the overwhelming financial strain on Melissa and Riaan so they can focus entirely on Leané’s healing and getting back home, please consider donating to or sharing her BackaBuddy campaign:

🔗 Support Leané’s BackaBuddy Fund:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-lean-haar-stryd-teen-leukemia-wen

Every single contribution—no matter how small—goes directly toward funding her ongoing medical expenses, living costs in Pretoria, and the care needed to bring her safely across the finish line.

Join Us in Prayer 🙏🏻🤍

Please continue to lift up Leané and Melissa daily. Let us pray for supernatural healing, physical strength through these chemo rounds, peace for their tired hearts, and for those EBV levels to drop completely so they can finally head home! 🏡✨

A Prayer for Leané & Melissa:

Heavenly Father, we ask You to place Your healing hands upon Leané. Give her strength for every treatment and bring her body back to full health. Please grant Melissa supernatural strength, comfort, and peace, especially on the days when exhaustion and homesickness feel overwhelming. Surround them with Your unconditional love, carry them through each difficult day, and let this targeted treatment clear the EBV completely so they can return home to their family. We place them in Your hands, trusting in Your healing power. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏❤️

Thank you to every single person who continues to pray, contribute, share, and check in on them. Every prayer, message, share, and act of kindness means more to our family than you will ever know. 🌸❤️

Please keep praying, keep believing, and keep standing with Leané!

🎒

02/10/2026

Leané’s Journey: A Quick Catch-Up & EBV Update 🌸🎗️

Hello friends and family,

We wanted to post a quick catch-up to bring everyone up to speed on what’s been happening over the past couple of weeks.
Back on September 15th, we had another crucial check-up with Leané’s doctors. Because her blood counts had remained stationary and her EBV levels weren't dropping on their own, the medical team put a clear, dedicated action plan into place to get the virus under control. 🩺🩸

Here is how that treatment phase unfolded:
Dedicated EBV Treatment: She officially started a specialized 4-week treatment course (administered every Wednesday) specifically targeted at lowering those stubborn EBV levels. 🤒

Polygam (IVIG) Boost: Following her initial treatment, she also received an 8-hour Polygam infusion to deliver a heavy boost of antibodies and fortify her recovering immune system. 🤍

Hospital Monitoring: To keep her as safe as possible during these infusions, she was admitted to the hospital so the nurses and doctors could monitor her reactions, hydration, and blood work around the clock. 🏥

Where Our Faith Stands:
Even when the road takes an unexpected detour back into a hospital bed, we are constantly reminded of how resilient our sweet girl is. Every treatment, every drip, and every long day in Pretoria is taking us one step closer to getting her completely healthy and back home where she belongs! 🏡✨

How You Can Walk With Us Today:
Pray for Progress: Please pray that this 4-week treatment cycle completely clears the EBV virus, that her kidneys stay strong, and that her blood counts begin to rise steadily.

Support Her BackaBuddy Campaign: The ongoing hospital admissions, travel, and extended stay in Pretoria continue to build up. If you are able to donate or share her story with your network, please visit her link below: 👇

🔗 https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-lean-haar-stryd-teen-leukemia-wen

Thank you all for your constant love, endless prayers, and warm messages. Your support gives Melissa, Riaan, and our whole family the peace and strength to keep pushing forward every single day! 🌸❤️

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.”
— Psalm 28:7 🙏🏻✨

🎒

Our little daughter, Leané , was diagnosed with Leukaemia on Friday, 2 January 2026 — something no parent is ever prepared for. Leané started...

25/09/2026

National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer 🧁🎗️

Get ready to sweeten your day for a great cause! Join us on Saturday, September 26th, 2026, for National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer. It's the perfect excuse to indulge in delicious treats while making a real difference in the lives of children fighting cancer. We are thrilled to be hosting this event at not one but TWO fantastic locations in Nelspruit this year!

📍 LOCATION 1: White River Crossing
📅 Saturday, 26 September 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 Outside Mugg & Bean
📍 LOCATION 2: i'langa

Mall Nelspruit
📅 Saturday, 26 September 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
📍 Outside Mugg & Bean & Outside ABSA

A huge thank you to our sponsors, Cupcakes of Hope, for making this day possible. Come out, bring your friends and family, and let’s make this the sweetest day of the year! 🧁💛

10/09/2026

Leané’s Update & Prayer Request 🌼🏥

Hello friends and _family,
We wanted to check in and share an important_ update following Leané’s weekly check-up today. 🏥

The medical team is continuing to closely monitor her blood work, with a specific focus on her EBV levels (Epstein-Barr Virus). 🩸🙏🏻

Understanding EBV & Why It Needs Close Monitoring 💡

EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus) is a very common virus that most people carry naturally without any issues, as a healthy immune system easily keeps it in check. However, after a bone marrow transplant, a patient’s new immune system is still developing and delicate. Because her immune system is suppressed, an elevated EBV level carries a risk of leading to complications (such as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder or PTLD). Catching and treating elevated EBV early is crucial to keeping her recovery on the right track! 🩹🛡️

Where Things Stand Today:

EBV Levels: Leané's EBV has been slightly elevated for the past two weeks. We are waiting on blood results to see if the levels have started coming down. 🤞🏻

Potential Treatment Plan: If the levels haven't dropped, Leané will need to be admitted to the hospital next Wednesday to begin a targeted treatment (a specialized weekly therapy often given similarly to chemo) once a week for 4 weeks to clear the virus completely.

Kidney Care: Her doctors noted that her kidneys are working a little harder right now, so our main focus at home is making sure she stays well-hydrated and drinks plenty of fluids. 💧

A Heart-Warming Re-union 🥹❤️

On a very special note, we had the most beautiful weekend! Riaan and the boys came up to visit us—marking the first time our complete family has been together under one roof since June! 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦✨

Words cannot describe how good it felt to hold each other, laugh together, and feel complete again. While it made us miss home in White River so much more, it gave Leané and all of us the emotional boost we needed to keep fighting. 🏠🧡

How You Can Stand in Prayer & Support Today:
Pray for EBV Levels to Drop: Please pray that today’s test results show her EBV levels dropping naturally so she can avoid hospital admission next week.

Pray for Her Kidneys & Health: Pray for strength and smooth functioning for her kidneys, protection against any complications, and that her new immune system grows stronger every day.

Support Her BackaBuddy Campaign: Being away from home since June while managing treatments in Pretoria continues to bring heavy financial strain. If you are able to support or share her fund, please visit her BackaBuddy page here: 👇
🔗 https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-lean-haar-stryd-teen-leukemia-wen

We continue to put our trust completely in Jesus through every single step of this path. ✝️

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
— Isaiah 41:10 🙏🏻🌸

Thank you all so much for your relentless love, prayers, and support. It truly means the world to our family! 🧡🎗️

🎒

22/08/2026

Steady in Faith & Full of Gratitude: An Update on Leané 🌸✨

​Hi friends and family,
​Sorry for being a little quiet on our end! We wanted to check in and give you all an update on how our sweet girl is doing now that she’s been out of the hospital for a little while. 🤍

​A Little Bump in the Road & General Progress:
Leané had to pop back into the hospital yesterday to receive a dose of Polygam (an immune booster), as she has been struggling a bit with the flu. Her body is still rebuilding its defenses, so an extra boost was just what she needed.

​Other than battling this flu bug, Leané has been doing so remarkably well! Her spirits remain high, and she continues to blow us away with how positive, strong, and brave she is every single day. She meets every challenge with that bright, beautiful smile we all love so much. ❤️💪🏻

​Staying Protected in Isolation:
For now, Melissa and Leané are continuing to stay isolated in their Pretoria flat. It is so essential to keep her in a safe, controlled environment away from outside germs and illnesses while her brand-new immune system steadily grows stronger day by day. 🏡🛡️

​The Power of Your Support:
We are so incredibly grateful for every single prayer, every message, every kind thought, and every ounce of love sent Leané’s way. Your support has carried us through some of the heaviest days, and we truly, deeply believe in the power of prayer. 🙏❤️

​"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."
— Psalm 107:1 📖🌸

​⭐️ A Prayer of Gratitude for Leané:

​Dear Lord, thank You for carrying Leané through every single step of this journey.
​Thank You for the supernatural strength You have given her, for the healing she has received, and for the hope and vibrant positivity that continues to shine right through her.

​Thank You for surrounding her with such an immense circle of love, and for every person who has prayed for her, supported her, and held our family in their hearts.

​Please continue to wrap Your protective arms around Leané. Keep her safe from serious infections, soothe her flu symptoms, and grant her body the deep strength and energy it needs to heal and recover fully.
​Lord, bless everyone who has stood beside our family with their love and prayers. May You return their kindness and generosity a hundredfold.

​We place Leané safely into Your loving hands and trust You to guide her steps today, tomorrow, and always.
​In Jesus' name, Amen. 🙏❤️✨

​Thank you all from the very bottom of our hearts for walking this road with us. Please continue to keep our beautiful Leané lifted in your prayers! 🌸❤️🕊️

​

18/08/2026

To the Heroes in Scrubs, Classrooms & Caring Hands: A Heartfelt Thank You 🩺🤍🌸

Hello friends and family,
As we settle into this beautiful new chapter with Leané finally out of isolation and resting at home in Pretoria, our hearts keep turning back to the extraordinary people and organizations who helped us get to this exact moment.

We want to send our deepest, most profound thank you to Steve Biko Academic Hospital and the incredible team in the Paediatric Oncology Ward.

To Leané’s medical team—Dr Nkabi, Dr Büchner, Prof Reynders, Prof Omar, and all of the wonderful, dedicated nurses—you didn't just fight for her life with your medical expertise, late-night checks, and careful monitoring. You fought for her smile. You fought for her spirit.

During her toughest, most painful days in isolation, when her little body was so fragile and the road felt impossibly long, you went above and beyond to make sure she was not just comfortable, but genuinely happy.

A massive, heartfelt thank you also goes out to the incredible support team who took care of every part of Leané’s well-being:

Judy Schoeman (Dietician): For taking such good care of her nutrition and helping keep her body nourished.

Anél (Psychologist): For guiding her heart, mind, and emotions through the scariest days.

Our wonderful Physiotherapists: For helping her stay mobile, building back her strength, and walking her through physical recovery.

Teacher Hannah and Teacher Busi: For bringing light, learning, normalcy, and warmth into the hospital environment when she needed it most.

And to the incredible organizations and foundations who wrapped their arms around our family, bringing magic, joy, comfort, and vital support when we needed it most:
🔸Rainbows and Smiles
🔸Reach for a Dream Foundation
🔸Devon Vergne Foundation
🔸Hamba Nawe Project
🔸Cupcakes 4 Kids with Cancer.

You saw past the monitors, the IVs, and the medicine, and you saw our vibrant, brave 13-year-old girl. You brought warmth into a small, quiet hospital space, celebrated her victories, and helped keep her beautiful, courageous personality shining bright.

Thank you for answering our endless questions with patience, holding our hands on the scary days, and treating our daughter with the kind of fierce love and compassion you would give your own family. You are the hands and feet of God’s healing, and we will never, ever forget the light you brought into our darkest season.

May God richly bless each and every one of you, your careers, your organizations, and your own families for the selfless work you do every single day! 🌸✨

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."
— Hebrews 6:10 🙏🏻❤️

04/08/2026

HE IS FAITHFUL: Leané is OUT of Isolation & HOME in Pretoria! 🌸🏡😭🎉

Hello friends and family,
With hearts overflowing with absolute gratitude and joy, we are so excited to share the news we have been praying for: Leané is officially OUT of isolation and is now HOME in Pretoria! ❤️🙏🏻✨

What an incredible, breathtaking milestone this is! Looking back on this entire journey—from the grueling chemo days to maximum isolation and the bone marrow transplant—we are in complete awe of God's faithfulness, grace, and mercy every single step of the way. There were so many moments where all we could do was cry, pray, trust, and hold onto hope—and God truly carried our precious girl through it all.
We praise our Almighty God for His healing hand, His divine protection, and for every single person who has prayed, sent messages of encouragement, and supported Leané and our family. Your love and kindness have meant more to us than words can ever express. 🕊️🙌

The Next Steps in Pretoria:

Although this is a huge, joyful step forward, her recovery journey is still ongoing:

Next 3 Months: Leané will need to remain close to the hospital in Pretoria for the next three months.

Protecting Her New System: She will continue to have limited contact with groups and crowds to protect her fragile, recovering immune system from any risk of infection.

Twice-Weekly Check-ups: She will have hospital visits and blood tests twice a week so the doctors can closely monitor her progress until they are completely satisfied with her recovery. 🩺💪🏻

Please continue to keep Leané wrapped in your prayers as she grows stronger each day, adjusts to life outside the isolation room, and continues her steady recovery.

Praise our Almighty God! All glory, honor, and thanks belong to Him alone! 🙏🏻❤️✨

"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits."
— Psalm 103:1-2 📖🌸

🎒

04/08/2026

HE IS FAITHFUL: Leané is OUT of Isolation & HOME in Pretoria! 🌸🏡😭🎉

Hello friends and family,
With hearts overflowing with absolute gratitude and joy, we are so excited to share the news we have been praying for: Leané is officially OUT of isolation and is now HOME in Pretoria! ❤️🙏🏻✨

What an incredible, breathtaking milestone this is! Looking back on this entire journey—from the grueling chemo days to maximum isolation and the bone marrow transplant—we are in complete awe of God's faithfulness, grace, and mercy every single step of the way. There were so many moments where all we could do was cry, pray, trust, and hold onto hope—and God truly carried our precious girl through it all.
We praise our Almighty God for His healing hand, His divine protection, and for every single person who has prayed, sent messages of encouragement, and supported Leané and our family. Your love and kindness have meant more to us than words can ever express. 🕊️🙌

The Next Steps in Pretoria:

Although this is a huge, joyful step forward, her recovery journey is still ongoing:

Next 3 Months: Leané will need to remain close to the hospital in Pretoria for the next three months.

Protecting Her New System: She will continue to have limited contact with groups and crowds to protect her fragile, recovering immune system from any risk of infection.

Twice-Weekly Check-ups: She will have hospital visits and blood tests twice a week so the doctors can closely monitor her progress until they are completely satisfied with her recovery. 🩺💪🏻

Please continue to keep Leané wrapped in your prayers as she grows stronger each day, adjusts to life outside the isolation room, and continues her steady recovery.

Praise our Almighty God! All glory, honor, and thanks belong to Him alone! 🙏🏻❤️✨

"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits."
— Psalm 103:1-2 📖🌸

🎒

29/07/2026

A Heartfelt Thank You to the Far East Familia ❤️🙏🏻

Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the incredible fundraising event that the Far East Charity Run Crusaders Far East Familia organised for Leané.

To every single person who gave of their time, energy, love, and support—thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your kindness and unity have reminded us in the most powerful way that we are not walking this journey alone.

A Special Note of Appreciation 🌟:
A very special, deeply grateful thank you to Estelle, Charmaine, Pavla, Janine, Renetta, Ashley, Christel, Nadine, Amanda, Elize, and Pres Berny. Your tireless hard work, passion, and dedication behind the scenes made this event such an overwhelming success. We appreciate each and every one of you more than words can ever express!

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Pres Carlos (Crusaders Far East President and Regional President), as well as VP Kobus and VP Wes, for your strong leadership, encouragement, and support. It means the absolute world to our family. 🏍️✨

To Our Sponsors, Donors & Community 🤝:
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of the amazing sponsors, donors, and every individual who contributed in any way. Whether you donated directly, sponsored prizes or items, attended the event at Lakeview Lodge, volunteered your time, offered words of encouragement, or simply kept Leané lifted up in your prayers—every single contribution made a massive difference. Your generosity and compassion have touched our hearts more than you will ever know.

Every prayer, every donation, every act of kindness, and every word of encouragement is directly helping carry Leané through this fight as her body continues to heal and recover. We are deeply grateful for this amazing community standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us.

Thank you for standing beside our family during one of the most difficult journeys of our lives. May God richly bless each and every one of you for your love, generosity, and unwavering support! ❤️🙏🏻

"Two are better than one... if either of them falls down, one can help the other up."
— Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 📖✨

🎒