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Her doctor then suggested she should get a permanent solution to her condition - in the form of a transplant. The screening will cost P75,000 and the bone marrow transplant will cost over P700,000. Her chances of finding a donor from amongst her siblings has proven futile and she now has to look for donors internationally. "It didn't shake me at first and my mother had to take me for counselling," she says casually. Counselling made her realise her condition was real and she had to do what the doctors said. "The counsellors made me realise that by ignoring it, it would not go away." Kwapa remembers how she noticed she was ailing - from nose bleeds that left her dizzy, weak and sometimes on the verge of collapse. Her doctor took a good look at her and announced that she looked very pale. The doctors found that she had low platelets, which resulted in her blood not being able to clot. Her life and her eating habits have changed since her diagnosis. She tires easily, bruises easily and has to avoid bacteria that could cause infections. She has to avoid public toilets and when she was at school, her mother had to hire a combi to transport her. Kwapa said it was difficult for the other students to understand that she was not like them. Sometimes she even had to wear a mask. Kwapa describes how at times she was so tired that she could not do her school-work. "But I didn't want any special treatment at school and would avoid my medication just so I could finish my work," she says. Although she missed classes, she managed to pass with 41 points. "Just like anyone else, I have dreams and want a normal life. I would like to pursue law and become an attorney," she says. Her ambition is to start her own company. She admits that although she needs help, she is afraid of public exposure. "I like being on top of the world," she says. "I am praying for a miracle. Having a local donor bank would help many generations to come," she argues. In a bid to help their friend, a group of young people are looking at ways to help Kwapa by going on a corporate cycle challenge. This will cover 1,050 km in 13 days. Explaining the concept, her friend Tumelo Morobane said they hoped to get sponsorship from companies pledging P20 for every kilometre cycled. Gaborone city mayor Nelson Ramaotwana has already pledged P5,000. A friend of hers since she was in Standard Six, Therisanyo Masuga said they started a campaign to raise money for Kwapa almost two months ago. Under Bluephoenix, a youth initiative that helps different people, the youngsters decided to help their former Ledumang Secondary School colleague.
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