Centurion man in critical condition after contracting ‘mystery virus’
The family of a man whose heart and liver started failing for unknown reasons has appealed to the community to help.
Karel de Jager (28). Photo: Supplied
The family of a man suffering from a “mystery virus”, who is currently in a critical condition at a Centurion hospital, has asked the community for help, Centurion Rekord reports.
Karel de Jager (28) is being kept in isolation at the Unitas hospital.
His heart and liver have started failing for unknown reasons.
According to family member Jackie Kotze, doctors believe De Jager might have some sort of virus.
“Karel has been seeing doctors on and off in Jeffrey’s Bay, where he stays, since January,” she said.
“The doctors were struggling to diagnose him and he just kept on getting worse. He doesn’t have medical aid and most of his family members are staying in and around Pretoria.”
Desperate, De Jager drove all the way to Centurion on Monday to see his parents, who took him to a doctor in Midstream.
Kotze said he was immediately transferred to Unitas hospital where more tests were done.
“The doctors are telling us they think it might be a flu-related virus. They placed him in isolation but things just kept getting worse.”
In a matter of days, De Jager’s heart capacity went from 80% to 15%.
“His liver has also failed,” said Kotze.
“He has been placed on the priority list to get a new heart and liver. He has also experienced problems with his kidneys and there is liquid in his lungs.”
Four different doctors are treating De Jager in a desperate attempt to establish what exactly is wrong with him.
Kotze said the family have been advised not to have De Jager moved again given his critical condition.
“From the start, we have been doing everything to keep his medical costs at bay. Unfortunately, we just don’t have the means to pay for his medical expenses.”
De Jager’s family has since started a GoGetFunding online initiative to pay for his medical expenses.
On Friday morning a total of R18,200 had already been raised.
Kotze said there was also a number to which people could send an SMS to donate money.
To donate R5 to De Jager’s medical expenses SMS KAREL to 36106.
