GMA Extra: Paulinah Baloyi has a spring in her step again

GMA EXTRA 10 OCTOBER 2016 (OP HEALING HANDS PAULINAH 6 JULY 2016)

Operation Healing Hands changed the lives of 14 people -  Paulinah Baloyi  is one of them

BACKGROUND:

Operation Healing Hands for Mandela Day saw 14 patients get life changing operations for free over two weeks from Mandela Day 2016.

58-year-old Paulinah Baloyi was the 3rd patient to receive her life changing operation from Operation Healing Hands. Paulinah is employed as a domestic worker. 

For three years, she suffered severely with her right knee, with the pain growing worse by the week. Paulinah ended up walking with a crutch, but never missed a day of work. Paulinah was a state patient at the George Mukhari hospital, where she was assisted with painkillers and scheduled follow-up appointments. Her employer consulted a private doctor regarding her knee and it was confirmed that she suffered from severe arthritis that could only be repaired through a knee replacement. The cost was just too much for Paulinah to afford or for her employers to carry. Except for her knee, Paulinah was in good health. 

Paulinah is the sole provider for her family as her husband passed away many years ago. She has 4 children of which one is still at school and 2 are unemployed. She never allowed her situation to overshadow her life, but she was very worried that her knee would end up hampering her ability to work and provide for her family.  

Operation Healing Hands helped Paulinah with a full knee replacement and after care. The operation was a great success and Paulinah can now take on life again: without crutches or pain!!

CONTACT: Operation Healing Hands if you want to help, get involved or know of a person in need of medical assistance on: www.operationhealinghands.org

MORE ON OPERATION HEALING HANDS: 

Operation Healing Hands is the idea of a Pretoria orthopaedic surgeon, to get her colleges, friends and medical supply companies, to give of their time, skill, services and products in the private medical field, to help 10 people who cannot afford private health care, with life saving and changing surgeries. She had no difficulty convincing others in her field to participate and the result is an NPO, supported by more than 20 medical practitioners, support skills and two hospitals: Life Eugene Marais and Life Groenkloof.

Operation Healing Hands has helped the first seven patients this past week, with the second set of seven coming up this week. 

All the patients are people in need, who have been waiting on lists for years. The operations include hip and knee replacements,  ports for four children with cancer, reconstructive surgery for a cancer survivor who had a double mastectomy, tonsil removal and the removal of a cancerous vocal chord tumour. All medical treatment, surgery, aftercare for three months and medication will be provided for these patients free of charge!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT:  www.operationhealinghands.org