Sadiyah Moerat leaves huge legacy

GARDEN ROUTE | HESSEQUA | KAROO NEWS - Sadiyah Moerat from Mossel Bay touched many lives and her legacy will continue to have an immense impact - her love and dedication thriving in the hearts and minds of many way beyond the tragic day that cancer ended her life on Friday, 29 May.

This message is evident in the massive outpouring of sympathy on social media following her death.

Sadiyah (31) was a Cansa Global Hero of Hope in 2018/2019.

At the young age of 27, Sadiyah was diagnosed with breast cancer, five days after suffering a devastating miscarriage. Telling her story in her own words, she said: “I will never forget the look on the doctor’s face after she told me it was cancer and my response was that it was okay.”

Her testimony was that her immediate acceptance of the diagnosis played a vital role in her journey. “I believed that nobody else could be strong for me, but rather that I had to be strong for everyone else. Your body listens to your mind, so I would block out all the negativity and only attract good vibes. My body had no choice but to respond positively,” she said.

Initially she responded well to chemotherapy and had a successful mastectomy and radiation. She said her journey made her much more spiritual.

Brave, committed, always smiling
According to Cansa national spokesperson Lucy Balona, the overwhelming response to Sadiyha’s death is understandable. “She touched so many lives. She never complained, was so committed to Cansa as a volunteer and always bore that brilliant smile.”

Balona says Sadiyah, as a Global Hero of Hope, completely embraced her journey. “She was incredibly brave and shared her message with boldness to inspire and share hope. The real work of a hero. We are so honoured to have had her part of Cansa.”

The Cansa volunteers in Mossel Bay echoed Balona’s sentiments. “She was truly a Global Hero of Hope, the epitome of courage, determination and perseverance. She had a saying: ‘We are going to fight this, no matter what,’ and until the end, this is exactly what she did. She smiled through the pain, never complaining while still trying to be the best wife, mother and daughter.”

So much love
Sadiyah’s husband, Amier, this week told the Mossel Bay Advertiser, that God blessed him with an angel in Sadiyah.

They met in Cape Town during Sadiyah’s studies and were married for 10 years. "I don't know how I can explain to you how much love I had for her. When I first saw her, I thought I had never, never seen such a beautiful face," he told the Advertiser.

In a touching tribute on Facebook, following Sadiyah’s death, he writes: “I have never loved someone as much as I loved you. Through sickness and health I can honestly say I have been in your corner since day 1 and you were in my corner. Those hospital visits, when I had to push you in a wheelchair in the theatre rooms and made sure I was there when you woke up.

"I made a nuisance of myself at the hospital and think I was the only one who got away with sleeping next to a bed in a female ward.”

Amier said he believes Sadiyah was given a great responsibility to encourage people, especially through her illness. “She went out of her way. She gave me so much, but when I see people’s reaction to her passing, I see she gave the community even more. The community support has been totally overwhelming.”

He says his biggest task now lies ahead - to raise their children. The couple have a 10-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter. “I don’t have the finishing touch of a woman, but all I can do is ask: what would Sadiyah do? She will live in my heart forever.”

Amier Moerat, Sadiyah and their children Imaad and Nihal.