A Chesterville mother of two, who had leukemia, recently lost her battle with the disease after she made a desperate plea for stem cell donors to come forward to help her get well again.
Gugu Juliet Ximba’s best chance of finding a donor was likely to be from among Africans.
This is because blood stem cell matches are based on tissue type and not blood type, which means her genetic match was most likely to come from someone of the same ethnic background.
The 38-year-old mother sadly passed last week after she relapsed.
Leukaemia was not foreign to Ximba and her family.
In 2008, Gugu's mother was diagnosed with the same disorder and lost the battle that same year.
DKMS, an international, non-profit organisation dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders, had helped share Ximba’s story in hopes of finding a donor.
DKMS Africa wrote on its Facebook Page: “It is with deep sadness that the DKMS Africa family shares the passing of Gugulethu Juliet Ximba.
The 38-year-old mother of 2 who was diagnosed with leukaemia had undergone treatment when she relapsed.
We send our deepest sympathies to her loved ones.
Lala ngoxolo, Gugu.“
DKMS Africa’s Palesa Mokomele says her passing has had a big impact on the entire DKMS Africa team.
“She exuded a positive, magnetic energy that inspired us and many others who were moved by her plea into action. She was very hopeful about her future and we are very deeply saddened that she left her family and especially her children behind, our hearts go out to them. DKMS will continue to fight for all patients to give them a possibility of a second chance,” she said.