Charlene’s Story

Let’s back track a bit. Imagine a 14 year old teenager living in Tumasera going through what I went through without medical aid. Would they be taken seriously going to the only clinic in that area complaining about knee pain?

Would the assumption be they don’t want to go to school and are seeking attention?

Would they be screened for cancer?

Would that be the first thought in your mind?

All those questions receive a No answer because we have a big problem in this country.

There is no cancer education at schools besides it being mentioned in Biology. The whole conception around it is that it is sorcery (boloi) but would that idea in the community not be changed if education is done rapidly?

That question I leave to you. Now let’s get back to my fight. A 5kg tumours was removed, I was on treatment and I thought I was beating it but God was not done with me. 3 months later after I turned 17 I was sick all over again, had an MRI and 4 tumours were found. My medical aid was exhausted, and I hit rock bottom. At 17 I had cancer again with no hope until my father found a program the government has put in place called Health share which takes patients outside the country for treatment that’s is unavailable here in Botswana.

I got signed as one of the patients and had my prosthesis operation in April of 2015 and 6 months later was finally cancer free. I am not writing this or talking about my story to change my life alone. I am here to talk for a 7 year old boy child whose cancer could be detected late and does not know of the program the government has in place therefore leaving him to lose his life. I am here to open the eyes of the African community to realize that cancer is not a white people disease, an old people disease, witchcraft or bad luck but rather a disease that is taking the lives of many and testing our faith.

The journey I went through, I would never wish it on anyone else. If my story could help at least one cancer sufferer know that there is finally hope, my purpose would be fulfilled. Let us not let others suffer in silence. Let us not let others feel that they are alone.

Let us not let others drop out of school just to seek medical care which could have been accessed here in Botswana.

Let us shine a light of love, strength and union. If at least you can touch one person’s life a day imagine how many people you would have given hope by the end of the year. I am a living a testimony that cancer can be beaten. Not only once but twice. To my fellow cancer sufferers, survivors and to those who know someone with cancer I am your voice. I made it and I’m studying Events Management, have a company, a cancer activist and am a motivational speaker.

Though depression came with cancer I am still strong as ever. I beat cancer wearing pink boxing gloves that I shall never hang up and let gather dust. Let’s us not allow others to hang up their boxing gloves too but rather borrow a friend one may not be medically alright at the moment because I have just come back into the country from undergoing my 3rd operation where 6 procedures were done on my leg to assist me to walk better as the cancer damaged my left leg but that does not stop me from fighting more and more every day.