THE little boy stretched out as the plastic mask was carefully moulded to the shape of his face and chest before being fixed to the bed. His heart began to pound and his eyes widened with fear as he was enveloped in the maw of the metal machine.
It's a heartbreaking scene and it's one that confronted radiotherapist Janica Smit (27) every day as she treated young cancer patients.
The thermoplastic mesh mask keeps patients immobilised while radiation targets areas in the head or neck where tumours are located.
The process is scary enough for adults - but when you're a little kid it's positively terrifying.
"It breaks my heart to see the fear in their eyes," Janica says. "The radiation process isn't always easy and I wanted to do everything in my power to make the process a little easier for my patients."
Which is why Janica, who's based at the oncology unit at Life Eugene Marais Hospital in Pretoria, decided to do something to make the ordeal a little easier for her young patients.
She did some research and discovered that doctors in hospitals overseas were painting radiation masks for kids, which helped distract them and introduce an element of fun.
"I thought, "Why don't we bring this to South Africa?""
Janica wrote a proposal to her manager and medical team, and it was given the green light.
Denne historien er fra 21 March 2024-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
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Denne historien er fra 21 March 2024-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
ONE OF A KIND
She survived a violent stepfather and being raped by a bandmate as well as rampant showbiz sexism. Now as singer Cyndi Lauper heads off on her farewell tour aged 71, she just wants to have fun
TRUE TO HIS ROOTS
Rap icon Kendrick Lamar's recent Grammy haul has cemented his status as the king of hip-hop
RYAN'S ON A ROLLI
Ryan Rickelton has taken the cricket scene by storm, announcing himself as a force to be reckoned with
PARALYMPICS, HERE I COME!
He lost his left leg as a baby, but these days Nicklaas is a star on the athletics field and he's got big dreams
KEKE'S KICKING IT!
From child star to Hollywood powerhouse - Keke Palmer shines as an actress, podcast host and film producer
NEXT CHAPTER LOADING
Werner Wessels, the creative force behind many Miss SA winners, is stepping away from pageants to embrace new opportunities
BABY SHAME GAME
Lily Collins got a lot more than she bargained for when she announced she'd become a mom via a surrogate
BRIDGET'S BACK!
Renée Zellweger returns for the fourth and possibly final outing of Helen Fielding's ditsy cult heroine, a role she has relished from day one
I CAN BREATHE AGAIN'
After months of legal hell, two aneurysms and brain surgery, Alison Botha is relieved that her attackers are back behind bars and she can focus on getting better
SA IN TRUMP'S SIGHTS
With Elon Musk whispering in his ear the US president has unleashed his wrath on South Africa. But how worried should we be?
