Dream job comes true
Liesl Ah Shene
FORGET asking for toys or a game, 10-year-old Jordynn Human's wish is to become a vet, and her dream recently came true.
Reach for a Dream foundation, together with Tygerberg Animal Hospital, had the opportunity recently of making the Grade 5 Collegiate Junior pupil's dream a reality.
The young Millard Grange resident was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in June. The day after being diagnosed, she was taken to the Red Cross Hospital in Cape Town for treatment.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a form of cancer of the white blood cells, characterised by excess lymphoblasts.
Malignant, immature white blood cells continuously multiply and are overproduced in the bone marrow. These cause damage by crowding out normal cells in the bone marrow, and spread to other organs.
The discovery of Jordynn's illness came as a huge shock to her family.
"She was not sick at all. She was just very tired and I knew her to be an active girl, so I took her to our pediatrician, and then we heard the news," her mother, Rochelle, said.
"I didn't expect that it was leukaemia."
The Reach for a Dream Foundation contacted Tygerberg Animal Hospital (TAH) in the hopes of making Jordynn's dreams a reality.
Although according to Rochelle, Jordynn is allergic to animals, she is a big animal lover and dreams of one day becoming a professional veterinarian.
"At the moment she has a parrot and fish but really wants a new dog. That will have to be put on hold until her treatment is done in about two years," she said.
Jordynn and her mom got to spend the day at the TAH Durbanville branch with Dr Michelle Adam.
Dr Adam did a tour around the hospital explaining where certain procedures are done and then gave a demonstration of what an everyday veterinary check-up entailed.
"Her favourite part of the day was being fully kitted in the vet gear and being able to listen to a dog's heartbeat," Rochelle said.
"She told me afterwards that's what she wants to do one day."