He believed he was on the road to recovery. He had started his second phase of chemotherapy and thought he would beat it.
But fashion designer Quiteria Leboganag Kekana died in his home in Melville Johannesburg.
The 38-year-old was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2021. His family said he passed on Sunday 17 April 2022.
“It is with profound regret and sadness that the Kekana family confirms the untimely passing of international fashion designer, son, father, and brother Lebogang Quiteria Kekana (38) after a short battle with cancer. Quiteria sadly passed away on Sunday 17 April 2022 at his Melville home. Quiteria leaves behind his son, his beloved parents, siblings, family, and his puppy," the statement reads.
The family humbly requests privacy, as they process the news.
"We ask that you please keep us in your prayers.
“The family has requested privacy during this time. The Kekana family is deeply thankful for all the countless personal messages of love and support received thus far. The details of her memorial and funeral will be confirmed in due course. With much love and thanks, the Kekana family.”
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In an interview with Drum magazine, Quiteria believed he would beat the illness. This was just after he had decided to move back home.
“It is one of the toughest decisions I have had to make, but for me to recover I needed to be where I feel loved and there is no judgment,” Quiteria said.
His decision to move back home was also due to the high cost of treatment.
“The costs for good health care brought a lot of financial strain on my business. I was not willing to lose staff again, after the effects of Covid-19. So, I have kept the studio open and allowed the staff to continue to service our clients while I try and get my health together. I sold some of my valuables to make ends meet and have been assisted by close friends in helping with medical bills, but more help is still needed. It has been tough, but I believe I will recover and continue to make beautiful garments. I will beat this. I have beat almost every obstacle in the past.”
Quiteria is responsible for designing for A-list celebrities including Khanyi Mbau, Makhadzi, Phuti Khomo, Natasha Thahane, and in 2018 dressed Beyoncé for the Global Citizen concert.
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is cancer that affects plasma cells, which are part of your immune system. Healthy plasma cells help to fight infections by generating antibodies that recognize and attack germs. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Instead of producing helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications.
What are the signs of multiple myeloma?
The signs and symptoms can vary and, and early in the disease, there may be none. The signs include bone pain, especially in your spine or chest, excessive thirst, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, mental fogginess or confusion, tiredness and fatigue, weight loss, and weakness or numbness in your legs.
Treatment for multiple myeloma
If the multiple myeloma grows slowly and isn't showing signs and symptoms, the doctor may recommend close monitoring instead of getting treatment immediately. For those who require treatment, several options are available to help control the disease.
