Zoleka Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter, plans ahead for funeral amidst cancer battle
Zoleka Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter, plans ahead for funeral amidst cancer battle
Story from Saleh INUWA, Kano
Zoleka Mandela, a renowned South African author and activist, has successfully completed her final radiation treatment for brain cancer.
The courageous mother of six, who is battling terminal cancer for the third time, has been sharing updates about her journey.
Having previously overcome breast cancer twice, Zoleka was recently diagnosed with stage three cancer affecting her bones, lungs, liver, and brain.
Taking to social media, the writer, activist, and granddaughter of Nelson Mandela expressed her relief at finishing her radiation treatment and returning home.
“Guess what happened today? I had my last and 10th Radiation Treatment to my brain. I even got to take my Radiation Mask with me as a memento! My Radiation Oncologist has also asked me to discontinue the use of steroids. I’m back home and feeling grateful! The next course of treatment is with my Medical Oncologist. Peace. Passion. Positivity,” she wrote.
During a recent interview on eNCA, Zoleka revealed that she is already planning her funeral, acknowledging the urgency of her situation while embracing life to the fullest.
“I feel like I’m in a place where I’m running out of time, but at the same time, I’m living my life,” she said.
“However, I’m capturing stories in my own way. I have plans for my children, plans for my funeral, plans for the days leading up to my passing, and plans for the legacy I want to leave for my children,” she continued.
Last year in August, Zoleka shared with her followers that she struggled to find the right words to convey her thoughts and emotions to her children.
“I don’t even have the words to articulate my thoughts and feelings, the words to describe how scared I am right now. What do I tell my children? How do I explain that this time, I may not survive? How do I reassure them when everything is not okay? I’m dying… I don’t want to die,” she wrote.
In addition to her updates, Zoleka has launched a YouTube channel where she discusses her journey with cancer and being a single mother.