Zoey Da Silva – 13 going on cancer-free

We hear the incredible story of the resilient Zoey Da Silva and how immunotherapy became the breakthrough that gave her family the miracle they needed.

Zoey Da Silva (12) lives in Fourways, Gauteng with her mom, Melissa, and stepdad, Ricky. Her father is Paulo and her stepmom is Sarah. She has two younger siblings.

In 2020, Zoey was unusually tired, quite pale, and developed lumps on the sides of   her neck. Melissa took her to their GP. 

“He ordered blood tests which were inconclusive. He ordered more tests and shared them directly with a paediatric oncology team. We were asked to come in that same day. Zoey was admitted the following day to undergo a bone marrow biopsy and a biopsy of the neck gland. She was diagnosed with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) at the age of six,” Melissa explains.

Only being six, this bewildered Zoey and brought many new emotions.

“I was scared because everything was happening so fast, and I didn’t fully understand why I was feeling so sick or what the doctors were going to do,” she says.

Melissa adds, “Receiving that news on   New Year’s Eve, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, was surreal. Our world changed overnight. At first, it was a whirlwind of complex medical information, and we hardly had time to process our own emotions. However, we were blessed with an excellent team of doctors and nurses who guided us step-by-step. Their expertise and compassion kept us optimistic and deeply hopeful for a positive outcome.”

Melissa reached out for psychological support for Zoey and the family. “It was vital for us to process the trauma and stay strong as a family unit,” she says. 

Treatment: a long and gruelling road

Zoey began nine months of intense chemotherapy in hospital. In October 2021, she underwent a donor stem cell transplant, followed by donor lymphocyte infusions (white blood cells from the original donor to patient) top-ups in ICU for another year.

“We thought we were finally in the clear, but in December 2022, Zoey relapsed. She started oral chemotherapy for 28 days, but by January 2023, it was clear it was unsuccessful. The relapse drastically worsened, with her leukaemia blast count jumping from 14% to 90%,” Melissa says. 

“In February 2023, Zoey was readmitted  for reinduction chemo, and things became incredibly scary. She went into septic shock and was moved to ICU. By March, she suffered a severe medical reaction that caused a seizure, resulting in her being intubated and put on a ventilator. It was a terrifying time, but she fought through, and we were finally discharged for recovery at home at the end of March.”

Immunotherapy produces a miracle

There was fresh hope on the horizon when a new immunotherapy was offered to Zoey. The only downside was it wasn’t covered in full by their medical aid.

“In May 2023, Zoey was admitted for a 28-day cycle of a bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) immunotherapy. By 29 May, she was stable enough to continue the IV therapy at home. In June, Zoey was minimal residual disease (MRD) negative (no cancer detected in the body); this was the miracle we needed!” Melissa explains.

Zoey completed a second round of the immunotherapy through July and August 2023, remaining MRD negative and back in complete remission. 

Second stem cell transplant setback

Preparation for a second, higher-risk transplant requiring radiation commenced. But, in November, Zoey was admitted with severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of the bowel and cytomegalovirus colitis. The second transplant was called off completely.

Her recovery took several months with many hospital admissions in between. But in June 2024, Zoey successfully completed her third round of immunotherapy. 

“As of today, she remains completely all clear, in remission, and complication-free!” Melissa says.

United in raising funds

Due to the medical aid only covering 75% of the cost, the remaining 25% was paid out of pocket with the support of family, friends, and the local community raising funds. “It’s an incredibly expensive treatment, but it saved her life when traditional chemotherapy failed,” Melissa adds.

Managing school

Zoey’s school was informed when she was diagnosed. “They were extremely supportive, and I’m so grateful for how   much they accommodated me. During the first year of treatment, I did school online because COVID-19 was still around and my immune system was too weak. Due to the relapse and all the complications later, I had to be taken out of school entirely for my Grade 4 year.”

Zoey went back to school in 2024 and is currently in Grade 6, due to repeating Grade 4.

Zoey adds that she wanted her friends  and teachers to know as it made her feel less alone, with her friends sending her messages of support. 

“It helped me feel like I was still a normal kid who belonged to a class, even when I was stuck in a hospital room,” Zoey says.

13th birthday party

Zoey is excited for her 13^th birthday in August.“Becoming a teenager is a huge milestone, especially after everything. I want to celebrate it surrounded by my family and friends. I’m planning to go to Gold Reef City for a fun day out with all my school friends.”  

Lessons learnt

When asked what lessons were learnt, Zoey responds, “Having cancer taught me that I’m much stronger than I ever thought I was. It also taught me to love the simple things, like being able to go outside, play with my siblings, and just go to school.”

The lesson it taught Melissa is, “The power of hope, the miracle of modern medicine like immunotherapy, and the absolute resilience of the human spirit. It showed us that even in the darkest, most terrifying moments, you can find the strength to take just one more step forward.”

ZAR-SAR-07-26-00002 (07/2026)