Community show support to Seanna who lives with rare syndrome
The Fourways community has rallied around the Potgieter family as they seek to R300, 000 for their daughter's surgery.
The Fourways community came together to show kindness and compassion at a charity dinner at John Dory’s in Fourways Mall.
This was to support the Potgieter family in their time of need.
The evening was filled with warmth, generosity, and a sense of community, as locals rallied around the family in their desperate plea for help to raise R300 000 for their beloved daughter, Seanna’s life-changing surgery.
Front: Gabriela Palacios-Fluck.
Seanna’s life is a constant struggle as every mealtime becomes a painful ordeal for her due to having superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome, an uncommon medical condition that occurs when the third part of the duodenum becomes compressed between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery.
Despite the pain caused by the rare syndrome, the 13-year-old bravely conceals her suffering with a smile, but her family yearns to see her enjoying her favourite foods once again.
The teen had two surgeries last year – one in September and the other in October – but they have not alleviated her symptoms and pain.
Front: Andre Da Silva and Ray Noble.
But through perseverance and loads of research, the family was able to find an American group chat called SMA Syndrome Warrior and was connected to the world’s foremost SMA syndrome specialist Dr Domingo Alvear.
According to Seanna’s mother, Nadia, Alvear has pioneered a surgery called duodenal derotation surgery and/or the Alvear method.
“Dr Domingo has agreed to come to South Africa to assist Seanna with her revision surgery but also teach his method to South African surgeons, which means every potential SMA-diagnosed South African will have access to this surgery which has the highest success rate among all other procedures.
“This procedure removes the duodenum completely out of compression and has an almost 100% success rate. This is where I need everyone’s help. Please help me raise the funds needed to bring Dr Alvear to South Africa.
To donate, please click here.
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