At Ridge Hospital in Accra, Lisa Laryea’s family gathers around a phone, watching a video of her faint smile from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This fleeting glimpse of their 10-year-old daughter has been their only connection with her for days.
Once a beacon of joy, Lisa is now facing stage 4 leukaemia, a life-threatening cancer affecting her blood and bone marrow.
Lisa, a student at Lerato Preparatory and JHS in Lartebiokorshie, was known for her love of books and her dream of becoming a paediatrician. But her life changed drastically on October 31, 2024, when what appeared to be a simple cold turned into something far more serious.
“Lisa attended career day at school, but later we were called and informed she was complaining of body pains,” recounted Georgia Golightly Thompson, Lisa’s mother.
She added, “On November 1, 2024, we took her to the hospital thinking it was just a cold or malaria. After further tests, the doctors decided to admit her. I was later called for counselling and was devastated when they told me Lisa had stage 4 leukaemia.”
Lisa’s condition requires urgent and costly treatment, including a $100,000 bone marrow transplant in South Africa. For her family, raising this amount was an uphill battle.
“I started selling my assets. I sold the little plot of land I owned, but it wasn’t nearly enough,” Georgia said, her voice heavy with emotion.
Desperate for help, the family turned to social media, sharing Lisa’s story in a heartfelt plea. The post quickly gained attention and eventually reached the CEO of Engineers & Planners and Dzata Cement, Ibrahim Mahama.
Known for his generosity, Mr. Mahama pledged to cover all the costs of Lisa’s treatment. This includes airfare for Lisa, her mother, her aunt, and a medical doctor to South Africa.
“Mr. Ibrahim Mahama doesn’t consider cost when it comes to saving lives,” said Rafik Mahama, a special aide to the philanthropist. “He instructed that we do everything necessary to ensure Lisa receives the best care. The doctors and nurses in South Africa are already in touch with the family, and we’re ready to proceed.”
For Lisa’s family, the relief was immeasurable. Georgia expressed her gratitude through tears, while Lisa’s aunt, who had been a pillar of support, thanked everyone who made the miracle possible.
Lisa is scheduled to fly to South Africa on Thursday, November 21, 2024. While her journey to recovery is just beginning, her family is hopeful that this is the turning point in her fight against cancer.
Thanks to Ibrahim Mahama’s compassion, Lisa now has a fighting chance to survive, thrive, and fulfill her dream of becoming a paediatrician.
