Help Sheldon receive much-needed medical attention
He will not be able to finish his matric this year, but if all goes well for next year he can go back to school and redo his matric.
AN Amanzimtoti family is pleading with the community to help raise funds for their 18-year-old who has fallen ill and is in need of urgent medical attention from a private specialist.
“I’m a nursing sister in Amanzimtoti, seeing to an 18-year-old matric student from Amanzimtoti High School, Sheldon Grobler, who has undergone major surgery with near death experience at Port Shepstone hospital. The family are not on medical aid and are trying to get help for him to see a private specialist for a second opinion,” said Veronica Freegard.
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Sheldon fell ill during the first school holiday this year. His parents rushed him off to hospital as he was complaining about a tummy ache days before. He was taken to GJ Crookes Hospital and was referred to Port Shepstone Regional Hospital where he was examined.
“During his first few days there, doctors suspected it was gallstones. The first flood hit us and the hospital had no water to take Sheldon into theater. Once the water was restored they took him to theater to see if the gallbladder was affected. As the surgeons operated on the right side, they found the appendix had burst, which led to an infection and septicemia in the stomach which caused the colon to get infected. They had to wash the organs twice,” said his mother, Belinda Botha.
Sheldon underwent a total of four surgeries. He now has a stoma bag and needs to have it for at least two years, possibly permanently. He stayed in hospital for nine weeks, “He has been fighting this with all he has and staying so strong. I am so proud of him. We don’t have a medical aid and have been relying on government facilities, but they have failed my child. Since my son has been discharged we have had endless problems,” said Botha.
She added that GJ Crookes Hospital do not do wounds at night, and they also do not know much about stomas. “We begged and pleaded with them to help us as his stoma bag fell off and faeces ran into his wounds. After spending hours that night at hospital they helped us, but with very little knowledge. We walked out there and I knew I can’t bring him back there for help. His stoma permanently leaks into the wounds,” said Botha.
The hospital he was at does not want to admit him again as they say he is not sick nor has a fever. She added that, “We have been from pillar to post and don’t know how to ‘fix’ it. It feels like I’m failing my child. I sit with my son crying as we don’t know where to turn to anymore.”
They have since found a nurse to come in daily and help clean the wounds and the stoma, but their finances can only take them so far. They plead with the community to please assist in getting Sheldon the proper care that he so desperately needs.
“Any kind of donation can make a big change in Sheldon’s life and his future,” said his mother.
For more information, contact Belinda Botha on 076 965 1964. Alternatively, make a donation at the following banking details: Belinda Botha, Standard Bank, savings account number: 10088898243.
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