She has been battling cancer for over 11 years. The granddaughter of South Africa's most loved anti-apartheid icons Nelson and Winnie Mandela has been documenting her life's journey for more than a decade and sharing her quest for survival, love and addiction. Zoleka Mandela recently shared how the battle seems to be getting tougher.
HOSPITALISED
She was recently hospitalised for eight nights and had to inject Neupogen to help her body make more white blood cells, which are crucial to help fight off infections, as chemotherapy and radiation, typically reduce the cell count. "Possible side effects: Bone pain, fever, diarrheoa, and weakness," she documented. "Day two, since my first chemo, the other day, was hectic! Feeling so much better this evening. Pain-free, active and I was able to make my own dinner and incorporate all the daily exercises and stretches the physio and OT departments taught me to do!" When she was discharged, she asked for continued prayers for her loved ones.
NOT LOOKING GOOD
Zoleka says this phase of her journey is tough and needs strength and prayers. "This is a very hard one for me. On Saturday morning, I collapsed at home due to another tumour found in my brain," she said. "Things are not looking good for me, at all and it's important for me to continue to be honest about my journey as I vowed I would for the betterment of the cancer community," she added. "I ask for your continued prayers, not for me but more for My Blings ( My Riches: Zondwa, Lindo, Bambatha, and Zwelabo), for my Queenship (Those who have been there every step of the way: Thatohatsi, Jenine, Sanele, Jabulani and Sisipho), as well as My Assistant Mom, Aus' Lerato who has been good to me and good for me, and most importantly my children - the very best of me, my lifeline and anchor: (Zwelami, Zanyiwe, Zenzile, and Zingce). As I rejoin you in prayer, for them all, I will pray for my comfort, peace acceptance."
PLANNING FOR HER LAST DAYS
Not long ago, Zoleka said she had been preparing her kids for her death. She has met with her family, a lawyer and a therapist to discuss what life will be like for her children after she dies. "It will probably sound strange but, I am in my panic stages. I think I am blessed and fortunate enough to be in a position where I am in my planning stages. I am having conversations with my loved ones, lawyer, therapist, and siblings to discuss what happens on the day and after I pass away." Zoleka said she was honest about how she feels "I have reinforcements that I know that tomorrow is another day. I have learned to really just be okay with my eventuality. I'm living to be okay with living despite an expected death. I am always evaluating various facets of my life, my relationships, priorities and goals. I am put in a place to actually have a say, especially with my kids as a single parent that looks after all my children." Zoleka said she also does not want to bother her siblings when she dies. In another interview, she said that the cancer is not only in her spinal cord but in her hip area and now the liver. "There is a lot of pain, every day is different. The form of treatment is different, in this regard, they are doing a lot of trying to improve my quality of life by reducing pain. I do have fractured bones due to cancer."
