To all our dear friends,


Natie was due for his first check-up in South Africa during the week of 28 March till 1 April. On Monday the 28 of March they started all the necessary blood tests. The X-ray showed 2/3 of fluid on the left lung - when he left Tanzania he had a slight cough but nothing alarming. So he got admitted into Wilgers hospital Tuesday morning. The doctors decided to do a CT scan to determine what is causing the fluid. The CT scan revealed a huge growth in the chest spread into the left lung. Decided that they are going to do surgery the Thursday in order to drain the fluid, remove as much of the growth as possible as well as removing the pleural sack around the left lung and do a bone marrow biopsy at the same time.



So I left Tanzania on Thursday the 31st March to be with Natie. All went well with the surgery. They drained 2 liters of fluid, removed some of the growth (could not remove a lot), removed the pleural sack and did the bone marrow biopsy. So recovery started slowly and again the BIG wait for the results. Received the pathology results on Monday 4th April - the T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma cancer returned, as big if not bigger than before.



Needless to say we are still in shock!!! Oncologist decided no time to play around, so they started chemo treatment on Tuesday the 5th of April. He will undergo treatment for 6 days/24 hours at a time with 2 weeks in between. Seems like the chemo treatment received in 2004 only suppressed the cancer and did not kill it. So the plan is now to treat Natie with chemo to try and shrink the growth and then do a bone marrow transplant.



At this stage it is a battle to survive and we can only pray to the Lord for a miracle. So please do not stop your prayers for Natie!



Regards

CorneOelofse

Tanzania Game Trackers & Wengert Windrose Safaris

corne.oelofse@tgts.com

www.legendaryadventures.com



Address during treatment in South Africa

Mobile: +27-72-273.6109
P.O. Box 1661, Faerie Glen

Pretoria, 0043

South Africa

Prayers sent as we hope for better news...

Dear Cornie & Kathi

Thanking you for the information ...

We at Balla-Balla Safaris have Natie in our thoughts and wishing & praying for a very postive outcome in these difficult times

Regards, Peter

Prayers are on the way. I've known Natie and Corne from way back when he was guideing for his Uncle-Jan Oelofse, in Namibia. Natie and Corne are two fine, fine people, and I wish them all the best.

y'all will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.

Even though I have never met Natie, my heart and prayers go out to him and his family. I lost my younger sister to this disease one year ago this week.

With warm regards and sincere best wishes.

Bull1

We will be praying for all of you. I wouldn't wish that bone marrow transplant on anyone. Regards and well wishes.

Done deal. It's all in His hands now.

Best Wishes and prayers.

I will keep them in my prayers.

My prayers will include them.

I will gladly remember you in my prayers and look forward to hearing good news soon.It is a tough battle for all involved as that is some nasty stuff you are having to deal with.I ask God's blessing on our patient and the whole family.

May God bless you all , and bring complete healing .

Prayers & Best Wishes .

Brad

My thoughts go out to Natie and his family for a speedy recovery.

Dave

Our prayers are with Natie and his family..I will say a prayer as I post this message.

I'm with you....

The prayers have been said, and will continue.

DONE!!!!

Niki and I know Natie and Corne' well and were deeply saddened to hear the disease had returned. Natie had kind words of support for Niki while she layed in her hospital bed last year while he was fighting a battle of his own in another hospital in Joburg. That is personal strength. Our thoughts and prayers are with both of you.