Heart transplant recipient is celebrated at Netcare Milpark Hospital
Over a year later, a young Grade 11 learner has gold and silver medals from 2023 World Transplant Games after undergoing a heart transplant procedure.
A story of resilience, overcoming and gratitude is now told by a Grade 11 learner who lay fighting for his life at Netcare Milpark Hospital, Parktown, just over a year ago.
Pedro Basson, who attends Helpmekaar Kollege in Braamfontein, had his heart rapidly failing and was diagnosed with myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle. Pedro’s mother, Rene Basson, said her son was also diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition that stretches and weakens the heart muscle, making it hard for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. She said Pedro also tested positive for Covid-19 and two other viral and bacterial infections and was transferred to Netcare Milpark where a multidisciplinary team of healthcare experts were standing by ready to assist.
Rene said her son had been active, with an affinity for tennis and with no healthcare issues until October 2021. “Pedro was playing tennis in a tournament at Sun City when he started feeling unwell. Soon afterwards exams started and while pushing himself academically, he did not play sport but continued with moderate exercise as he was not feeling great and somewhat tired and out of breath.”
She said they had not been too concerned as they thought this was after-effects of no sleep on school trips; however, despite ample rest, Pedro’s tiredness continued, his heart was ‘racing and he was hot and sweating’. He was then admitted to critical care at the hospital.
Pedro said he was shocked when he learnt that a transplant was his only hope, but those who underwent transplants before spoke to him and calmed him down. “Now I am feeling good and am pretty much back to normal. I am stronger, a better player with greater purpose – I just need to work on my fitness levels.
“I really want to thank the family of my donor, my own family, the doctors and nurses and Netcare Milpark Hospital and Discovery Health, who carried me through this difficult time.”
Interventional cardiologist at the hospital Dr Graham Cassel and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Martin Sussman performed Pedro’s heart transplant early last year. Dr Cassel said as soon as the transplant had been done, Pedro was keen to play tennis again. He indeed participated in the men’s singles tennis championships at the April 2023 World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia, where he won a gold medal and won a silver medal in the men’s doubles tournament. Pedro gave his gold medal to Dr Cassel at a celebration event held at the hospital on May 9. The medal will be kept in his office as a symbol of hope for others with life-threatening heart disease.
Discovery Health CEO Dr Ryan Noach said the insurance paid R1.9m for the whole procedure. Pedro’s tennis coach, Ntando Lungwazi encouraged Pedro to write a book about his experience.
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