Tanja Lepschy can only dream of a carefree youth. The 16-year-old is fighting cancer for the second time. She has always been a cheerful person, a hardworking student and caring daughter, says Papa Christian, who has already had two strokes and a cancer of the tongue himself. His wife, Tanja’s mom, also survived uterine cancer. “Fortunately, it all turned out well,” says the Mühlviertler. “It would have looked so good with our little one, too, but then the relapse came.”
It has been three years since the family from Kefermarkt found out about their youngest daughter’s leukemia. Tanja, who was in fourth grade at the NMS at the time, had injured herself in gym class and was cast in plaster. Her health soon deteriorated rapidly, which worried her father very much. “She was all pale and weak,” he says. The cause was found in the oncology ward in the Linz hospital: Acute lymphatic leukemia – a disease that, if left untreated, leads to death within a few months. A stressful procedure began for Tanja’s family. Chemos, blood reserves, bone marrow draws and many tablets should destroy the cancer cells. Christian Lepschy stood by the young patient in the hospital, encouraged her and gave her hope. “We both have a strong will. I knew she could do it,” says the 45-year-old.
Search for stem cell donors
After one and a half years of intensive therapy, Tanja was allowed to return home, where she had to take chemo tablets every day. The healing progressed so that a year later, in December 2020, she could stop taking the pills. In the meantime Tanja had finished school and got top marks at the HLW in Freistadt. Outwardly, too, the cancer was defeated. “It blossomed so much. The hair grew long again after the chemo. A very smart dirndl,” says the proud dad.
The joy lasted only for a short time. After the monthly check-up in September, the family received the next bad news: the leukemia is back, the cancer cells are all over the body. “This time a bone marrow transplant is necessary because the values are so bad,” says Christian Lepschy. In spring, when a suitable stem cell donor has hopefully been found, he will accompany his daughter to Vienna. Then the vehicle technician goes on hospice leave, which is also associated with financial worries.
Tanja’s mother could not withstand the permanent psychological stress and is currently being treated as an inpatient. “One can only hope that everything will be fine again,” says Christian Lepschy. When he and Tanja are not in the hospital, he tries to get them to change their minds while playing cards. “I’ve learned her schnapps too well, she always knocks me in,” he says with a smile.
Despite all the setbacks, the 45-year-old has not lost his confidence and is already making plans for the time when his 16-year-old daughter is healthy again: “We have discovered the mountains for ourselves. I am already looking forward to a hiking trip together on the Wurzeralm. “
Here’s how you can help
For 57 years the OÖN-Christkindl has been helping Upper Austrians who are in need through no fault of their own. The Lepschy family will be financially relieved because of the upcoming hospice leave. If you too would like to help compatriots after a stroke of fate, please donate to the Christkindl account (IBAN: AT94 2032 0000 0011 1790). Thanks very much!
Source: Nachrichten
