Last month, a celebratory atmosphere filled the halls of the Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital at Sheba. The occasion marked a significant milestone in the medical journey of 9-year-old Alexandra Opoku. After bravely enduring a challenging battle with cancer spanning nearly three years, she successfully completed her treatment and has been cleared for discharge. Alexandra will now return home for further observation.
Alexandra’s Journey at Sheba
Back in October 2021, Alexandra arrived at Sheba with her father Eric in search of hope and a second chance to live a happy and fulfilled life. Back in her home country of Ghana, doctors had diagnosed her with stage three neuroblastoma and delivered her father the heartbreaking news that there was nothing they could do for her.
From the beginning, it was clear to Sheba’s dedicated medical staff that Alexandra had a long road to recovery ahead of her. The treatment she had initially started in Ghana but was not effective, prompting the need for further intervention in Israel. After evaluating the situation, a decision was made to administer a full dose of chemotherapy.
Following surgery at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Alexandra underwent an autologous transplant in Israel and subsequent radiation therapy to address the condition comprehensively. Starting in June 2023, anti-GD2 maintenance courses, including antibodies and Roaccutane immunotherapy, were initiated to provide ongoing support and prevent disease recurrence or progression.
Finding Hope and a Second Chance
Following a series of follow-up appointments and imaging studies to assess progress and treatment response, Alexandra was deemed medically fit to return home this month. The ability to instill hope in individuals like Alexandra and Eric and provide a clear path to recovery, aligns beautifully with Sheba’s mission of promoting global health care and hope without boundaries.
Alexandra’s resilience in the face of such a serious condition was an inspiration to us all. The life and positive energy she brought to Sheba will certainly be missed. We hope only a thriving and healthy future for this amazing young lady.
