A Mother’s Journey: Nwabisa Monye’s Fight Against Retinoblastoma
Nwabisa Monye, a 36-year-old mother from Johannesburg, South Africa, never imagined that a seemingly harmless glow in her daughter’s eye would lead to a life-altering diagnosis. Her daughter, Zoe, now 14, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, when she was just one and a half years old.
Like many parents, Nwabisa often took pictures of her little girl, unknowingly capturing a glowing reflection in her eye. However, lacking awareness about childhood eye diseases, she brushed it off as something unique and special about her baby. It wasn’t until a family visit to their rural home in the Eastern Cape that a cousin noticed Zoe constantly bumping into objects on her left side. Concerned, they conducted a simple eye test at home, covering one eye at a time. The realization was chilling that Zoe couldn’t see with her left eye.
The festive mood of the December holiday vanished instantly. Nwabisa and her family rushed Zoe to the hospital, where doctors referred them to an eye specialist in Johannesburg. After thorough examinations, the specialists broke the devastating news: Zoe had retinoblastoma, and she had already lost vision in her left eye. The doctors explained that if left untreated, the tumor could spread to the optic nerve and eventually to the brain, posing a life-threatening risk.
The diagnosis shook Nwabisa to her core. As a newly born-again Christian, she struggled to reconcile her faith with the harsh reality before her. Family members resisted the idea of surgery, believing it was not an option. Her church, Christ Embassy, encouraged her to attend a healing school, reinforcing her faith in divine intervention.
For weeks, she held onto the belief that a miracle would restore her daughter’s sight.
But as time passed, Zoe’s condition worsened. She began experiencing pain and a visible tumor formed in her eye. The once-playful baby was now suffering.
It was then that Nwabisa had a difficult yet courageous realization she needed to take the medical route. A conversation with her pastor provided reassurance: seeking medical help did not mean she lacked faith. God had also given wisdom to doctors.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Nwabisa took Zoe to a different eye specialist at the Pretoria Eye Institute. The doctor was alarmed at the severity of the tumor, emphasizing that surgery should have been done much earlier. Zoe was immediately referred to Netcare Unitas Hospital, a specialized facility for children with cancer. However, by this time, the tumor had grown too large for direct removal. The only option was chemotherapy to shrink it before surgery.
The next few months were grueling. Little Zoe, not even two years old, had to endure six to seven cycles of chemotherapy. Nwabisa watched helplessly as her child lost weight, became frail, and lost her hair. Yet, despite the hardship, Zoe remained a lively and playful child. Her resilience gave Nwabisa the strength to push forward.
When Zoe shared her journey in a personal essay, her school principal was deeply moved. He was so impressed by her resilience and achievements that he hadn’t even realized she had a prosthetic eye. In fact, during her Grade 7 interview, the high school was so inspired by her story and presence that they wanted her to start school with them immediately. Zoe remains a testament to the power of early detection, medical intervention and an unbreakable spirit.
Today, Zoe is 14 years an outstanding student excelling in everything she does. She continues to be a top achiever, thriving academically and in extracurricular activities, with unwavering confidence. Growing up with vision in one eye never diminished her spirit; to her, it was simply her normal, and it never affected her self-assurance.
Nwabisa’s journey has made her passionate to advocate for childhood eye health, emphasizing the importance of recognizing warning signs like the glow in children’s eyes.
She hopes that by sharing her story, more parents will become aware of retinoblastoma and take immediate action if they notice anything unusual.
Nwabisa Monye’s story is a powerful reminder that faith and medicine can coexist. It also highlights the need for increased awareness and education about childhood cancers, particularly in communities where such knowledge is limited.
Through courage, resilience, and informed decisions, she saved her daughter’s life and now, she hopes to save many more.
