For 16-month-old Nienke Louw life is hard.
She was diagnosed with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) shortly after birth and needs a life-saving heart operation.
Nienke hails from Brakpan and lives with her parents Jandre van Staden and Erika Louw and siblings Mischa (11) and Quinton (8) Louw.
The family cannot afford the operation Nienke needs and after hearing about her plight local musicians and community members decided to put together two fund-raisers to help raise the R1-million needed.
Tommy Gloss, who is well-known in Germiston, along with Jennica Marais from JM Productions, have planned a special fund-raising event taking place on December 1.
The event will be held at Laerskool Die President situated in Astronomy Road, Fishers’ Hill, from 10am to 6pm.
“We decided to get on board to help Nienke as she is a child from the East Rand and feel that if the East Rand comes together she can be helped,” Tommy said.
The fund-raising day which is a music extravaganza and entitled Have a Heart for Nienke will feature performances from Johan Baard, Justin Coetzee, Lucas van Wyk, Mel Fox, Kyle, Sonet Pienaar, Jaco, Mike Pawson and Renier van Staaten.
There will be fun for all with a strongman competition, food stalls, a beer garden, a flea market, jumping castles and water slides.
There will also be prizes up for grabs on the day.
Tickets cost R50 for adults, R20 for pensioners and children under 12 get in for free.
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For more information on the Germiston fund-raiser or to book your stall (stall holders will not be charged to have a stall, but a donation is appreciated) contact Jennica on 083 275 3060.
A similar fund-raising event will be held at the Alberton Ruby Club on November 24, from 9am to 6pm.
Popular singers will grace the stage in order to help Nienke.
For more information on this event contact Schantelle Pawson on 074 156 7928.
All the artists are offering their talents free of charge.
All the proceeds of the fund-raisers will be managed by Angels Who Care in Need NPC and the funds will go directly towards Nienke’s operation and aftercare.
“Nienke spent 57 days in Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital where doctors attempted to repair her heart on two occasions.
“They were, however, forced to abandon the operations as doctors discovered that her condition was more complicated than initially thought,” said Erika.
“It was so sad and difficult seeing other children come in and go home while she was still in ICU.”
During her hospitalisation Nienke went into cardiac arrest and suffered seizures and had to be resuscitated.
She was then referred to a specialist at a private hospital.
Once Nienke receives the operation her prognosis for survival is good.
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