Social networks were buzzing as the search for Rabbit steamed ahead. The hullabaloo was for Nicolas “Nic” Henshilwood, who suffers from thyroid cancer.
|||Cape Argus - Social networks were buzzing on Thursday as the search for a stuffed brown bunny named Rabbit steamed ahead. The hullabaloo was for nine-year-old Nicolas “Nic” Henshilwood, who suffers from thyroid cancer.
Nic will undergo a three-day radioactive iodine treatment at Groote Schuur Hospital soon. But after his treatment Nic will have to give up his companion, Rabbit.
His mother, Barbara, 40, of Wynberg, told the Cape Argus on Thursday that Nic has slept with Rabbit from birth.
“Rabbit has been with him every single night of his life. He gives him great comfort,” she said.
Nic and Rabbit will be in isolation for three days while undergoing therapy.
After the treatment, Nic’s clothes and Rabbit will be incinerated to avoid radiological contamination.
Rabbit, who was bought at Woolworths, was given to Barbara by her sister when she was pregnant with Nic, as a present for her first-born.
Henshilwood said she had received “overwhelming support from people around the country”, wanting to help. “I believe there is a look-alike in Pretoria that’s on its way, but we will only know for sure once we have him in our hands,” she said.
Nic, a Grade 3 pupil from Sweet Valley Primary School, in Bergvliet underwent a “massive” operation three weeks ago at Vincent Pallotti Hospital to remove a lump on his neck, and that’s when the cancer was discovered.
“Although he has gone through enormous strain in the past weeks he has been a brave little boy. He has taken everything in his stride. The only thing that’s giving him stress is that Rabbit will have to be destroyed after his treatment,” said Henshilwood.
Leaving Rabbit at home is not an option for Nic, as the family wants to create a comfortable environment for him while he isolated.
Besides Rabbit, Nic will take with him his Nintendo game, a TV and a DVD player.
nontando.mposo@inl.co.za
Cape Argus