Muchaneta Chimuka
A 14-YEAR-OLD girl, who is battling rare bone cancer, has penned three letters, including one in which she talks about how her funeral should be conducted, although her defiant family refuses to give up hope.
Shalom Onoja, a former student at Nettleton Junior School, had her leg amputated after Good Samaritans contributed a deposit of R20,000.
She was diagnosed with bone cancer in August 2024.
Shalom’s condition started deteriorating last month and she is currently admitted at Parirenyatwa’s cancer ward.
The little angel now relies on artificial oxygen and a well-wisher donated an oxygen machine, which she can use at home, when she is discharged.
She has penned three letters.
In one of the letters, she thanks everyone who has supported her journey throughout her treatment.
She also writes, in one of the letters, how she wants her funeral to be conducted.
She says that when she dies, she wants to be dressed in a purple dress or an all-white outfit and even hopes that her funeral will be a colourful ceremony.
She tells her family and friends not to remember her pain but the little time they shared with her.
Last Saturday, Shalom requested that all her friends visit her in hospital.
Although her body seemed weak, she managed to open her eyes and even spared time to have a selfie with this reporter.
Because of the relapse of the cancer in her lungs, she can no longer sleep horizontally.
She leans on pillows and is forced to sit upright throughout.
Shalom Onoja
But, her family, which has been fighting to save her life, refuses to give up hope that their little angel will recover.
“We are just praying that one day our daughter will recover,” said her mother Ndakadaishe Nyaradzo Shumba.
“It is now over a month since she was admitted here. She is not eating well and she has since written her wishes.
“We are equally touched. She is very intelligent and focused but all her dreams have been shattered due to this cancer.
“We have seen several children lose their lives and, as caregivers, we can hardly eat.
“Some children have lost both eyes; some have cancers of the blood. It’s really mind-boggling.”
In one of her letters, she thanks all the nurses at A4 special ward at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
“To every nurse who cared for me, comforted me, encouraged me, and helped me through difficult moments, thank you,” she writes.
“Thank you for your gentle hands, your patience, your kindness, and the compassion you showed me when I needed it most.
“Sometimes, a kind word, a gentle touch, or a comforting smile can make a painful day easier.
“Thank you for the little things you did that may have seemed ordinary to you but meant so much to me.
“Thank you for caring for me when I was weak, for helping me through difficult days, and for treating me with kindness and dignity.
“May God bless every one of you and give you strength as you continue caring for other patients. I will always be grateful for the love you showed me.”
She also thanks Kidzcan, an organisation dedicated to increasing the survival rate of children suffering from cancer and blood-related disorders in Zimbabwe, in one of the letters.
“To the KidzCan family, thank you for standing with me and my family during this difficult chapter of our lives.
“Thank you for the support, compassion, encouragement, and hope you have brought into our journey.
Shalom Onoja
“Your kindness has reminded us that we are not alone and that there are people in this world who are willing to stand beside families facing childhood cancer.
“May God continue to bless your work and give you the strength to support many more children and their families.”
October is globally recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, often referred to as “Pink October.”
Many organisations, including Zimpapers, are spearheading national campaigns.
Her father, Joe Phiri, said he was grateful to those who have contributed towards the deposit, which enabled her to undergo surgery.
He thanked Moreboys and Group, a South African-based Funeral Service Company, which contributed R5,500.
He also thanked an anonymous donor from the UK who gave the family another R5, 000.
Another anonymous donor from Australia chipped in with R10,000.
The family initially opted for bone salvage surgery in India but their hopes were dashed after it was observed that the cancer had spread to her lungs.
Shalom was then taken to South Africa.
Phiri said they mobilised US$6,500 from Nyaradzo Group, Pahushamwari Hwedu, Women in UK and the corporate world.
However, delays and additional medical expenses forced them to return to Zimbabwe before she could be helped.
She has remained bedridden since then, resulting in her missing her Grade 7 examinations last year.
