LISTEN: Caylum is going to Boston, parents speak
A remarkable R5.5-m collected for Caylum. The Caylum Willemse Foundation collected R1.5-million in only 55 minutes on Friday.
This happened during a 947 breakfast show, when Gauteng residents opened their hearts and made it possible to add the R1.5-m to approximately R4-m the foundation had already managed to collect over the past few months.
Wayne Willemse, Caylum’s father, says: “There is now enough to get Caylum to Boston.”
“The Dr Glen Staples team has accepted the quote they received from Boston and, with the money raised on Friday, there is now enough to get Caylum to Boston.”
The cost involved in getting the baby to America is approximately $500 000 (R7-m according to FNB or R6.8-m according to Standard Bank on Monday).
The eight-month-old boy and his parents are waiting for a date from the Boston Children’s Home, in the States, where he needs to undergo a life-changing operation.
Read: WATCH: Caylum’s surgery successful
“We cannot express our gratitude enough to all the people who donated towards the fund.
“The reaction of the people of Gauteng was overwhelming,” says Wayne.
After the recent nissen fundoplication surgery the family had a more positive outlook on Caylum’s future.
He was diagnosed with trachea-oesophageal fistula (TOF) and oseophageal atresia (OA) when he was born, on January 12. He has been in the Netcare Clinton Hospital in Alberton since March 20 and is currently in high care in a paediatric ward.
Read: WATCH: Caylum fights courageous battle
He still has recurring episodes where he stops breathing, but, due to the specialised CPR training both his parents had to undergo, they have managed to save their baby’s life numerous times.
During a radio interview, Dr Staples offered help by “cutting the costs of the procedure in Boston by 30% to 60%, including the hospital costs and air ambulance”.
Speaking to the Advertiser on the phone, on Friday, Wayne’s comment was: “It is absolutely amazing how one company donated R500 000 and R200 000 respectively.
“We have also received a food donation for the past three months from two companies.”
He was excited to add that an Alberton company offered to help #GetCaylumToBoston by branding about 35 vehicles with Caylum messages.
“We also received a R100 000 donation from a family in Austria,” said Wayne.
He says Caylum might be discharged from hospital soon and will be on 24-hour watch by two specialised nurses.
Keep an eye on www.Caylum.org.za.
