Various members of the Edenvale community have reached out to help Mr Le Grange after his family appealed for assistance. This is after the Bedfordview and Edenvale News first broke the story.
According to his eldest granddaughter, however, her grandfather’s health has deteriorated overnight and he is currently dehydrated. He is also delirious and in desperate need of medical assistance.
She added that her grandfather was diagnosed with ascites roughly a month ago. The disease’s symptoms include abdominal swelling, edema, which is the swelling of the feet, a serious skin condition and severe water retention.
Mr Le Grange’s current size, which is estimated to be at 400kg, is due to water retention, which occurs when the disease is at its worst.
“In three months my grandfather went from being a normal-sized man to this. People think it’s an obesity problem but it’s a water [retention] problem,” said his eldest granddaughter.
Cherise Pretorius, Mr Le Grange’s second granddaughter, added that her grandfather no longer eats normally but still continues to gain water weight, because of the disease’s escalation. He can only eat a handful of food a day, and can only stomach fruit. Pretorius added that her grandfather’s suffering has also put a strain on her family members, especially her grandmother, Ms Shammy Rademeyer.
Linda McKenzie, a member of the Community Police Forum (CPF) who has been with the family since yesterday, attempted to make arrangements for Mr Le Grange to be treated from home. Due to several risk factors, however, Mr Le Grange will no longer be able to be treated from home and will have to be transported to the Johannesburg General Hospital.
Since Mr Le Grange’s suffering began, the family have appealed to various hospitals in Johannesburg for assistance and treatment but have been turned away.
The mood in Mr Le Grange’s household was visibly tense and his family members are increasingly anxious about his health. The family is appealing to community members to come forward with any medical assistance they can provide.
More updates to follow.
