7-Year-Old Josua Diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma – Let’s Help Him in His Fight

• Diagnosis and Initial Symptoms: 7-year-old Josua Louwrens was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) after a small bump on his neck, initially thought to be due to a gum infection, did not subside despite treatment. The diagnosis came after a biopsy on January 24, 2025, confirmed the presence of NHL on 28 January 2025.
• Comprehensive Medical Response: Following his diagnosis, Josua underwent extensive medical procedures including imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays for staging, alongside the installation of a central line for chemotherapy. His treatment includes a near six-month plan of chemotherapy sessions, starting from February 1, 2025, involving hospital stays and monitoring due to the aggressive nature of his lymphoma.
• Logistical and Financial Challenges: The treatment has significant financial implications, with costs not covered by medical aid piling up. Josua’s journey involves frequent travel between Newcastle and Pretoria, a distance of 350km, for specialised care, adding both emotional and logistical burdens to his family, particularly his mother who accompanies him throughout.
• Community Support Initiatives: The community, led by Josua’s school, Huttenpark Primary, is rallying support through initiatives like a music festival scheduled for March 1, 2025, and a BackaBuddy campaign to help cover treatment costs and provide emotional support. The collective effort aims to alleviate the financial strain and provide Josua and his family with the necessary support during this challenging time.

At only 7 years old, Josua Louwrens faces a battle no child should ever have to endure, having been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

This young hero’s story is now capturing the hearts of the Newcastle community, inspiring a collective effort to support his treatment journey and provide a beacon of hope in these trying times.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a formidable adversary, emerging within the lymphatic system, which is essential to our immune defence. This cancer arises from lymphocytes, a specific type of white blood cell, and can manifest in various regions of the body, including lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, or bone marrow. The complexity of NHL lies in its ability to disrupt the very system designed to protect us, making Josua’s fight not just against the disease but against the betrayal of his own body’s defences.

Josua’s story began in December 2024, when what started as a little bump on the right side of his neck, brought his parents, Josua and Christy Louwrens, worst nightmare to realisation.

During the December holidays, Josua and his brother went to visit their grandparents for a week on their farm. However, when the siblings returned home on 30 December 2024, his parents noticed a bump on the side of his neck. They immediately made a doctor’s appointment where he was prescribed some broad-spectrum antibiotics as he had an infection in his gum, which led the doctor to believe he had a swollen lymph node due to the infection.

However, as days passed, the bump did not subside; it grew larger, despite further dental interventions and stronger antibiotics. A third visit to the doctor led to Josua’s admission at Newcastle Mediclinic, where the medical team, perplexed by the persistent growth, decided on a biopsy. On 24 January 2025, surgeons managed to extract a small portion of the lymph node for analysis. The wait for results was filled with anxiety, culminating in the heart-wrenching confirmation on 28 January 2025, that Josua had NHL.

The medical response was swift and comprehensive. Josua underwent a series of imaging tests, including CT scans, MRIs, and chest X-rays, to stage the cancer’s progression.

The same night, he was back in surgery for the installation of a central line, a critical component for his upcoming chemotherapy, which would allow for direct, long-term medication delivery. Due to the lack of specialised pediatric oncology services in Newcastle, Josua was transferred to UNITAS Netcare Hospital in Pretoria, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his treatment journey.

On 31 January 2025, Josua faced additional procedures – a bone marrow aspiration and a spinal tap – to determine if the lymphoma had infiltrated these critical areas. His first chemotherapy session started on 1 February 2025, aimed at combating the aggressive nature of his NHL. The treatment plan outlined by his oncologist spans nearly six months, involving intense hospital stays, followed by a period of close monitoring near the hospital for side effects, before returning to Newcastle to regain his strength in between cycles.

The financial implications of Josua’s treatment are immense, with medical bills for drugs and procedures not covered by their medical aid already accumulating.

Josua’s mother will be by his side throughout this journey, navigating the 350 km distance between Newcastle and Pretoria, which adds layers of logistical and emotional challenges.

Reflecting on Josua’s challenging time ahead, Huttenpark Primary School’s principal, Llewellyn Gray explained that Josua is truly an amazing young child, who was not only a kind and caring boy, but also a model student, always ensuring his light shone brightly.  Taking the above into consideration, Gray explained that Huttenpark Primary is currently working on a series of plans to assist Josua and his family at an emotional and financial level. “We are looking at setting up long-term ways to assist Josua and his family, and as we are aware that this is an emotional time as well, we want to ensure that they receive all the necessary support possible,” said Gray.

One of the plans to assist the Louwrens family, Gray said, was a one day music festival which will be held at Huttenpark Primary School on 1 March 2025.

The funds raise at the event will go towards the necessary costs to see Josua rise above his current situation while ensuring his family receives the necessary support as well.

Gray further explained that a BackaBuddy campaign had also been launched to assist the Louwrens family raise the necessary monies for Josua’s treatment. To support the BackaBuddy campaign, click here.

As Josua Louwrens continues this formidable journey, the community’s compassion and generosity offers hope and support. Will you join in this crucial moment, ensuring this young warrior is not left to fight alone?

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