It is like having a ticking time bomb inside your body

Lee and Candice Castle appear to be a normal, loving couple, but on closer inspection you notice the desperation in their eyes.

At 29 years of age, this couple – together with their two-year-old son, Nathan – still have their whole lives in front of them, but a fatal disease is hanging over them, like a dark cloud, threatening to derail their future.

Candice was diagnosed with pancreatitis in August last year. “My symptoms started gradually, I experienced some abdominal pain and bouts of nausea which I thought could be an ulcer or food poisoning. A few weeks later – after eating a chocolate – I experience the worst abdominal pain imaginable and started throwing up. I knew something was wrong,” Candice said.

Pancreatitis is a disorder in which the enzymes in your pancreas start to digest your pancreas instead of the food you eat. Although this condition usually gets better, in Candice’s case it did not.

“My condition was labelled as chronic pancreatitis, but the cause could not be determined, as I do not consume any alcohol (which is usually the main cause), and have no gallstones, no ulcer or any other auto-immune disease,” she said.

The most dangerous aspect of this disease is the fact that Candice cannot eat properly, as her body is unable to digest foods – especially fats. She said she can only manage small meals – which she also liquidises – but is in constant pain. This is something that is very worrying to Lee, and her doctor. “She only weighs about 40 kilograms and, according to the doctors, if she loses any more weight, her organs will fail,” said Lee.

There is an operation that can help with her condition, but unfortunately it can only be done in Canada. “I am sure we do have doctors in South Africa who would be able to do this operation, but we lack the proper equipment,” said Candice. The operation is called a Total Pancreatectomy and Auto Islet Transplant (TP/AIT). The doctors literally remove the patient’s pancreas, harvest the the insulin-producing cells from it and transplant them into the patient’s liver.

To see what the operation is all about, watch here:

This operation, although very dangerous, might be the only thing that can save Candice’s life. “But, I need to have the operation as soon as possible, because every day my pancreatic cells – which will be needed for the transplant – sustain more damage. I am in a race against time and it feels like I have a ticking time bomb inside of me that can explode at any time and kill me,” she said. This operation costs anything from two million to six million rand.

The couple have swallowed their pride and are pleading with the community to help to save Candice. “We have a fundraising page at www.givengain.com/cc/candicecastle/ where anyone can read Candice’s story and make a donation,” said Lee.

“We are planning a shadow shift evening at Spur, as well as a Barnyard fundraiser at Cresta, but still need to confirm the exact dates,” he added.

Candice’s biggest motivation to keep on living is Nathan. “I am not afraid of dying, but I cannot bear to think about my son growing up without a mom. We battled to conceive, as doctors said I would never be able to have children. He is our miracle baby – and the only child we will ever have. I cannot just accept my fate without fighting and exhausting every possible way to beat this.”

Lee concluded by saying, “It is very sad to see the love of my life suffering like this, knowing there is a way to help her, but not without assistance. We are not able to do this on our own, we are desperate and would appreciate any assistance.”

For more information visit the Facebook page “Save Candice” or contact Lee on 081 310 8322 or Candice on 081 396 7904.

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