‘He needs help or he’s going to die’, says desperate aunt of 9-year-old boy with huge tumor taking over his face

The family of a nine-year-old boy with a serious tumor enveloping his face is pleading with the British public for help.

Simbarashe Dande developed the malignant tumor at the age of three – which locals call a “curse”.

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Since then, the tumor has grown significantly and he is now unable to go to school, see, breathe, speak or eat properly.

He has exhausted all treatments available in Africa, where he lives – and now his extended family, who live in the UK, have launched a campaign to save his life.

His aunt, Violet Makunike, 53, from Birmingham, has raised almost half of the £40,000 she needs to bring him to the UK for treatment – before it is too late.

Some of the donations came from kind-hearted Brits eager to help little Simbarashe, who has difficulty breathing and eating due to his growing tumor.

“Everyone says he’s cursed,” Violet said.

“We were very sad to see him struggling with the pain.”

According to the aunt, growth greatly disrupts her life.

“He can’t play with the kids or live a normal life,” she explained.

“He can only eat soft foods, but has difficulty swallowing, can barely speak and needs help getting dressed.

“He needs help or he will die,” she added.

In March 2015, Simbarashe was born with a wart on the right side of his face that began to slowly grow.

His mother, Maria, and late father, Thompson, sought medical support and doctors diagnosed the boy with osteosarcoma in the maxillofacial region.

During this period, Simbarashe, who lived in Zimbabwe, was unable to go to school because other children were scared by his tumor.

Violet said: “All the neighbors suggested he was cursed.

We don’t know how long he will live in this condition. No one gave us a time or date he could die

Violet MakunikeSimbarashe’s aunt

“They were afraid their children would get the curse.

“Everyone was very upset and disturbed, they couldn’t leave the house without looking.

“Everyone was constantly staring and making them feel lonely.”

FAILED SURGERY

His terrified parents raised more than £17,000 through fundraisers which paid for his trip from Zimbabwe to South Africa for medical help in November 2020.

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In addition to chemotherapy, surgeons removed part of the tumor in hopes of slowing its growth – but it didn’t work in the long term.

Simbarashe’s father passed away due to an infection in December 2020, leaving Maria to raise her son alone.

‘NEEDS A TUBE TO BREATHE’

Assistant teacher Violet said: “It would be incredibly devastating to lose him.

“We put everything into raising awareness and fundraising.

“He deserves to live a normal life.

”We hoped everything would get better.

“We want him to live without suffering.

Violet wants her nephew to be healthy and for the illness to stop “tormenting the family,” the author added.

Since his treatment in South Africa, the tumor has grown rapidly and Simbarashe needs a breathing tube

Despite not going to school, Maria teaches her son at home and he enjoys watching his brother, Tatande, aged seven, watch football.

Your family is raising money through GoFundMe for him to travel to the UK for life-saving surgery to remove the tumour.

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Violet said: “Everyone is worried about their health.

“We don’t want to lose him after working so hard to raise awareness.

“We don’t know how long he will live in this condition.

“Nobody gave us a time or date when he could die.

“He is a beautiful, intelligent boy who does not deserve this pain.

“He used to be happy and talkative, but recently he has been very quiet as his tumor prevents his ability to talk to us.

”We just want him well so he can live a happy life.”

Osteosarcoma: everything you need to know

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer, usually diagnosed in teenagers and young adults.

It occurs when cells that produce new bone form a cancerous tumor.

The cause of cancer is unknown, but it is believed to be related to rapid bone growth, such as in adolescence.

Most tumors usually develop around the knee, on the lower part of the femur, or on the upper part of the tibia.

If the cancer does not spread, the long-term survival rate is between 70 and 75 percent.

If osteosarcoma has already spread, such as to the lungs or other bones at the time of diagnosis, the long-term survival rate is about 30 percent.

Symptoms:

• Bone pain (on movement, at rest, or when lifting objects)
• Bone fractures
• Swelling
• Redness
• Limping
• Limitation of joint movement

There are a few treatment options for osteosarcoma.

Often administered before surgery, chemotherapy uses medications that help shrink and kill cancer cells.

The length of treatment varies and may depend on whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

In most cases, surgeons can save the cancerous limb.

The tumor and surrounding bone are removed and the lost bone is replaced with artificial bone.

Sources: Macmillan It is Health Line