In January 2010 Tabo suffered a relapse of the disease and URGENTLY now must find a matching donor.

Keith Anesu Taboka (Tabo) was born on 25 February 2006.

He grew up normally and started grade 000 in January 2009.

In July 2009, Tabo started complaining of fatigue. He was normally a very active child. On Friday the 16th of July 2009, we made an appointment to see our GP on Monday the 20th of July to get him checked out. On the afternoon of Saturday 17 July we went to our brother’s house for lunch. There we met our brother’s friend who happened to be a doctor. The doctor made a remark that Tabo seemed rather pale and after we mentioned to the doctor that Tabo had been complaining of fatigue, the doctor suggested we get him checked out. We immediately took him to Sunninghill hospital. Blood tests showed his HB level to be extremely low (it was 3, when the normal is around 12). He was hospitalised immediately and a barrage of tests done over the next 3 days.

The immediate results were inconclusive but what clearly came out was that there were abnormalities in his bone marrow. We were then referred to the paediatric oncology unit at Johannesburg General. More tests followed at Johannesburg General and after 3 weeks, we got a diagnosis – it was Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) which had transformed into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). The experience is difficult to put into words but that was the most difficult and heartbreaking time we have had to go through as a family to say the least.

We are learning to live ‘one ‘day at a time holding on to the promise that “…His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness”

The subtype of AML that Tabo has (monosomy 7) is notoriously difficult to treat with standard chemotherapy. The specialist paediatrician oncologist attending to Tabo has said that a Bone marrow transplant is Tabo’s best chance for long term survival.

Treatment using chemotherapy commenced on 21 August 2009. As at 30 October 2009, Tabo has undergone 3 rounds of chemo, the first lasting 8 days and the other two lasting 5 days each. He is coping well with the effects of chemo so far and for that we give thanks to God.

Searches have been done on all Bone Marrow registries worldwide for a match to Tabo. There has been NO 100% matches found. This is not too surprising given the ethnic factor in matching between donor and recipient in bone marrow. 

We need more of the black population to register as donors to increase the chances of Tabo finding a 100% match. If not for Tabo, then for someone else who is in the same position as us.

Tabo has many interests. As with most 3 year olds, he is into Ben 10, Barney, Shrek, Scooby Doo and Pooh Bear. He enjoys watching DVD’s of bible stories.

Tabo is an avid sportsman and enjoys all forms of sport especially cricket, (he is quite the batsman) rugby and soccer (AC Milan is his favourite international team. He also has a mean golf swing and loves Tiger Woods.

He easily recognises and is a fan of Barak Obama and Jacob Zuma and spontaneously breaks into song whenever he sees President Zuma’s picture (no prizes for guessing which song he sings).

Written by Keith Chibafa (Father of Tabo)

As Tabo is not a UK resident medical costs wil be paid by his family.

If you would like to assist in any way or find out more about Tabo please visit his website www.tabochibafa.co.za