Luna Elizarette Swarts needs the community’s assistance after suffering a severe injury after a fall, leaving her arm to require urgent surgical attention.
Little Luna’s parents, Lian and Elizna Swarts were going about their day as normal when the accident happened.
According to her father, Lian, she fell and tried to balance on her arm but unfortunately suffered an inflammation on her shoulder. After numerous attempts to get a doctor to assist, they managed to get an X-ray scan at Netcare Olivedale Hospital in Randburg.
“It was such a relief to finally get assistance after waiting for hours at Helen Joseph Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital where there was no help. The orthopaedic surgeon told us that Luna suffered a supracondylar humerus fracture, which is a break to the lower part of the bone close to the elbow.
“The doctor also mentioned that this is a common fracture, especially among young children. We were quite hesitant to know what procedures were required to make sure she could undergo surgery.
“The doctor emphasised that the complications of leaving the condition untreated can lead to permanent damage, crippling the child’s use of her arm. The surgery is priced at R70 000 00,” the Swarts said.
The family faces a daunting challenge due to a lack of funds and inadequate government assistance. They were advised to open a BackaBuddy account after alerting the community on Facebook about their desperate need to save their little girl.
“The procedure would require Luna to do a closed reduction, which is set to reduce a broken bone without cutting the skin open by pushing the bone back a few centimetres. The broken bone is put back in place, which allows it to grow back together in better alignment. This will be done with her under anaesthesia, which is another expense.
“We also need to pay for the doctors who will be doing the procedure, followed by the rehabilitation to manage the inflammation and pain. We both work, but my wife mostly does voluntary work, and I am a qualified paramedic. We own a small medical supply company but that alone will not cover the costs.
“By God’s grace, we managed to get a second opinion with a doctor in Mamelodi. We managed to get the procedure done but Luna will need to go to physio,” Lian added.
A community service doctor, who was luckily on call at the Orthopedic Department at Mamelodi Regional Hospital, managed to sedate Luna and perform a closed reduction by pushing the bone back. The doctor then gave her a Plaster of Paris bandage to stabilise her arm.
Luna’s parents are pleading for help from the community, hoping that kind-hearted individuals can contribute to their daughter’s medical expenses. Any assistance, no matter how small, would bring them closer to securing the vital surgery their child needs.
If you would like to support the family in their time of need and help ensure their child receives medical attention, donations can be made here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/luna-arm.
