Abian Abbie Ntshabele, 14, who is suffering from immature terratoma, a rare type of cancer usually diagnosed in girls and young women up to their early 20s is said to be getting stronger despite the upheaval she has to go through because of the many operations she undergoes in the UK.

Little Abbie recently underwent yet another operation. According to her mother, Tiny Ntshabele, there were complications during the surgery. She said Abbie was initially due for a major chest operation, but due to complications including the collection of fluid in her lungs, it would have been too risky to undertake the full procedure on this occasion.

As such, a further explorative investigation was undertaken and her medical team decided to carry out a partial procedure which included antibiotics initially, followed by a drainage tube inserted into her chest permanently to enable lung fluid drainage prior to future surgery. Such intense procedures could have thrown any mother off the edge but definitely not Ntshabele.

She has to remain strong for her little princess no matter what the cost. “It has been very hard but as a mother you have to do whatever it takes for your child, fortunately I have the support of my mother who has been here with us since Abbie was first admitted to hospital in the UK,” she said adding that the support of her friends, family and the media both in the UK and in Botswana has been keeping her afloat.

Ntshabele has also revealed to The Midweek Sun that more funds are needed to help in Abbie’s recovery. There was a campaign that initially raised money for Abbie’s life saving operation and Ntshabele says they did not foresee the cumulative amount of complications and necessary procedures required after the initial phase of operations. “It has become clear to us all that we need to start the second phase of the campaign which will be Abbie’s recovery fund,” she said.

We have put together a team of coordinators both here in the UK and in Botswana who are working on the second phase of the fund raising campaign.
The new campaign is to reach all gender organisations, stakeholders and groups of different affiliations. Ntshabele said that the strategy is an open campaign to solicit any help to finance Abbie’s recovery since her future relies on her receiving good recovery medical care.

She continues to chronicle her daughter’s story which has also attracted British singing sensation Olly Murs who visited Abbie in hospital in New Castle back in April. For now, Abbie soldiers on and her feisty and strong spirit will help in pushing her to full recovery.