The kindness of a company located on a different continent and the determination of doctors to find a solution to his health problems has given a Springs man a second chance at life.
After suffering from heart problems for years, 66-year-old Johan Engelbrecht is now healthy and living in good spirits after receiving a new coronary stent.
While this in itself is nothing special as stent procedures are performed every day, Johan is one of the first people in the world to receive this particular type of stent.
Johan’s health troubles started in 2011 after he suffered a heart attack.
Also read:
Local company and church makes a difference in the life of elderly man
He underwent triple bypass surgery during which a coronary stent was inserted and he was sent home to recover.
“I was in a lot of pain and was very weak.
“I couldn’t bend down to pick things up because of the pain in my chest and was also fatigued and got lightheaded often,” he said.
Later that year, Johan went for a checkup to ensure his heart was functioning normally.
Much to his dismay, the doctors found one of his heart valves was beginning to leak and further surgery was needed to replace the existing stent.
To further add to his problems, the size of the stent required was not available anywhere in the world.
According to Johan, the largest stent available was 29mm and he required a 33mm stent.
To cope with his condition, Johan was put on a host of medication to alleviate the stress on his heart.
“My heart function was weakening every day and we were all stressed,” he said.
The only solution the doctors could think of, including his cardiologist Dr Pieter van Wyk, was to use the largest stent available and stretch it to the required size and then attach another one.
The doctors were reluctant to go ahead with the surgery as it would put Johan’s life in danger.
In addition, the doctors were apprehensive to perform another surgery due to scar tissue as a result of the first operation.
More problems concerning Johan’s health began to arise last year, which lead to a global search to save his heart, which was deteriorating by the day.
His doctors found a promising solution in India, where a company had developed a larger stent.
Through much deliberation with the company and the South African Medical Association, the company donated the stent to the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Sandton earlier this year.
Finally, in May, Johan received his new stent.
The surgery lasted only 27 minutes and he was released the next day.
Johan explained getting the stent into the country was an arduous process and was made even more difficult due to lockown and all the subsequent restrictions.
Also read:
Local company donates to Dr WK du Plessis School
The company took a great risk to get the stent here and all arrangement between the company and the South African Medical Association were done via Skype and Zoom.
The travel regulations due to Covid-19 further complicated the process.In addition, one of the company members had to be present during the operation as part of their protocol, and this too was done via Zoom.
For supporting him throughout the ordeal, Johan is grateful to his family – his wife Tersia, son Marius and daughters Mariska Hamel and Carla.
“This was a very difficult period in my life, but I never allowed the stress to get to my head, and their support helped me through it,” said Johan.
It is hoped this new stent will help save the lives of more people.
Follow us on social media:
