KidzCan Zimbabwe: Wadzanayi’s story

Image © Columbia College

An inspiring young woman who survived cancer as a child has forged a promising career in medical research – driven by the desire to help others be free from pain.

When Wadzanayi Michelle Mayiseni was just 12 years old, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. To save her life, her leg was amputated above the knee and she went through three grueling cycles of chemotherapy.

Throughout her time in hospital, Wadzanayi and her family were supported by KidzCan, a charity that works to improve children’s cancer survival rates in Zimbabwe, and enhance their quality of life in a loving and caring environment.

KidzCan provides families with financial help for diagnostic tests, drug treatments, and travel, to ensure financial challenges don’t prevent children from receiving treatment. It also gives psychosocial support in structured playtimes several times a week, and children receive toys, books, sweets, and warm clothing to help them feel comforted while in hospital.

Following her recovery, Wadzanayi went on to excel in high school, achieving outstanding exam results and receiving several academic prizes. She was accepted into New York’s Columbia University on a full scholarship, where her curiosity and determination led her to work with Nobel laureate Dr Eric Kandel. Motivated by her own experience with phantom pain after her leg amputation, she then decided to pursue pain sensitivity research and explore these findings in her thesis.

Today at age 23, Wadzanayi is researching neurology at the Yale School of Medicine, while applying to medical school. She hopes to become a neurologist and, despite her busy academic life, still gives her time to work with KidzCan to engage more people in the fight against cancer. She organises fundraising campaigns for cancer patients, and leads online discussions about cancer with young people in Zimbabwe.

Oak has been supporting KidzCan Zimbabwe since 2018. Oak’s Zimbabwe Programme funds local organisations involved in supporting the hopes and aspirations of Zimbabweans, particularly those furthest from opportunity. Click here to learn about the programme.