A breast cancer survivor has shared how the comfort of her pet cheetah helped her through her battle with the disease.
Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen, a 53-year-old from South Africa, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.
She underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy as part of her treatment, but alongside medical care, she had an unexpected source of support — her beloved cheetah, Fiela.
Riana first welcomed Fiela into her life in 2006. Throughout her recovery, the bond between the two grew stronger.
Fiela would curl up in bed next to Riana, gently suck on her finger, and even lick her bald head, offering a unique form of comfort.
Riana said about the experience, “I was worried our relationship might change after I lost my hair. But when she saw me, she just licked my head as if to reassure me, ‘You’re still the same, I still love you.’”
Despite Riana’s concerns that Fiela might accidentally hurt her post-surgery, the cheetah showed an instinctive awareness of her condition.
“She never jumped on me, always careful to lie on the other side of the bed, as if she knew I was in pain,” Riana shared. “It’s incredible how animals can sense what humans are going through.”
After seeing one in a magazine, Riana’s love for cheetahs began when she was 13. In 2006, she left the Department of Justice job to follow her passion for working with these magnificent creatures.
She now runs the Cheetah Experience in Bloemfontein, a sanctuary dedicated to breeding cheetahs for future release into protected environments.
Today, the center is home to 19 cheetahs and other animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, and meerkats. But among them all, nine-year-old Fiela holds a special place in Riana’s heart.
“Fiela was my first cheetah. We have a deep connection. She does what she wants; we call her ‘the Queen’ because of that. But with me, it’s different. She sees me as her companion, and I love her like she’s my child,” Riana said.
Riana has documented her time with Fiela through photographs, showcasing their unique relationship.
In one picture, she’s cuddling the cheetah in bed while they enjoy a meal together in another.
The Cheetah Experience, which opened in 2006, now operates with a team of five full-time staff and a steady stream of volunteers worldwide. The sanctuary’s mission is to protect and preserve cheetahs, which are currently endangered.
“If we don’t care for them, cheetahs could disappear,” Riana explained. “We’re trying to breed them in captivity so that, one day, we can release them into safe areas where we can monitor their progress without the threat of predators.”
For Riana, the journey with Fiela and her other animals has been life-changing in her battle with cancer and her mission to save these incredible creatures.
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