“Don’t die before you die.”
These defiant words echo from Lee-Anne Scholtz, a 25-year-old from Schonkenville in Parys, whose radiant spirit shines even in her toughest battle: acute lymphoblastic leukemia. What makes Lee-Anne’s story extraordinary isn’t just her medical struggle—it’s how her deep-rooted faith, tight-knit family, and love for gospel music have carried her through pain, isolation, and moments when doctors said she wouldn’t survive.
“I’m That Girl in Church”: A Life Built on Faith & Family
Lee-Anne’s voice brightens as she reminisces about her childhood. “Every Sunday, I’m that girl in church,” she laughs. Growing up, her life revolved around youth choir rehearsals, weekend family gatherings at her granny’s house, and the soul-stirring harmonies of Benjamin Dube and Ntokozo Mbambo.
“My family is everything—aunties, uncles, cousins all under one roof. We’re that loud, loving, close-knit family!” she jokes, correcting the interviewer who mistakenly calls her “Schultz” (a running joke, as even hospitals get it wrong).
Before cancer, Lee-Anne was studying to become a doctor—a dream she had to pause but refuses to abandon. “After my donor comes, I’ll go back,” she insists.
The Day Everything Changed: “They Told My Dad I Might Not Make It”
In June 2023, Lee-Anne’s life flipped overnight. Strange symptoms—violent bleeds, blue bruises appearing out of nowhere, exhaustion so severe she couldn’t stand—led to a harrowing diagnosis: acute leukemia, a aggressive blood cancer requiring immediate chemo.
“The doctors called my parents to say, ‘There’s nothing more we can do,’” she recalls quietly. “I was in Baragwanath Hospital for six months, isolated, watching other young patients pass away. Every night, I wondered: ‘When will it be my name?’”
Chemo was brutal. “It kills every cell in your body. You wait, helpless, to see if yours grow back,” she explains. At one point, her body stopped responding to treatment, and her family prepared for the worst.
“Faith Is My Anchor”: How Gospel Music & Prayer Saved Her
Through the darkest days, two things kept Lee-Anne fighting:
Her unbreakable faith
“I played ‘In the Shadow of Your Wings’ on repeat. That song? It’s my lifeline. I even recorded it during treatment!”
Her 6-year-old daughter’s strength
“My girl is a warrior. I want her to grow up knowing her mom fought like hell.”
Her voice cracks as she describes the moment she realized she’d survive: “When I woke up without fever for the first time? That’s when I knew God wasn’t done with me.”
The Fight Isn’t Over: “I Still Need a Donor”
Now in remission, Lee-Anne’s next hurdle is finding a stem cell donor—a process she describes as “terrifyingly uncertain.”
How You Can Help (Straight from Lee-Anne):
- Register with DKMS Africa (www.dkms-africa.org)
“They mail you a swab kit! No needles—just cheek cells.” - Share her story
“Someone out there is my match. They just don’t know it yet.” - Celebrate life
“I’m turning 25 on April 24th. Last year, I didn’t think I’d see this birthday.”
“Waking Up Is My Greatest Blessing”
Today, Lee-Anne radiates hard-won joy. She giggles about failed dating attempts (“I’m too stressed for romance!”) and dreams of her music studio. But her most profound wisdom is for others battling illness:
“Don’t let fear win. Bleeding? Pray. Needles? Pray. When the doctor says ‘it’s over’? Pray louder. My pain didn’t disappear—but neither did God.”
#FightLikeLee-Anne
Lee-Anne’s journey reminds us: Hope isn’t the absence of suffering—it’s the refusal to let suffering have the last word.
To join Lee-Anne’s donor registry or learn more, visit DKMS Africa. Your swab could be her miracle.
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