Good Morning Angels follow-up: Johan “Tjoppie” Fourie is a fighter!
Johan “Tjoppie” Fourie was unable to be in studio, fighting for his life in hospital, when his parents - dad Johan snr and mom Corné, visited Good Morning Angels in October 2019.
Tjoppie was in Grade 3 and very ill with Leukaemia and Guillain-Barré syndrome. His parents thought they’d lost him twice but he pulled through and now wanted to visit Martin in studio, to show him and all the Angels how well he is doing.
BACKGROUND: Johan “Tjoppie” Fourie from Pretoria North started the school year in 2019 as an active, healthy Grade 3 boy. He is the eldest child of Johan snr and Corné and big brother of Sené, who was in Grade 1. Johan and his friends from Laerskool Stephanus Roos loved playing rugby and cricket. At the end of July, Johan developed a fever – his mom took him to the hospital, where he was treated with antibiotics. His condition however didn’t improve and his mom took Johan back to the doctor. The diagnosis was a shock: Johan had aggressive Leukaemia. He received three chemo sessions a week and at the end of August, Johan was in remission. All he had to do to leave the hospital was get up and walk. Johan got out of bed, but collapsed into a coma for two weeks. He was diagnosed with a brain virus and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Johan was not able to leave the hospital for months. When he woke up, he could not speak or walk. He was able to breathe on his own now. His friends, family, and school community have rallied around him and his family, who – despite having a medical aid – is struggling to keep up with the emotional and financial cost.
ANGEL 1: Sandy Cipriano, founder of Cupcakes of Hope, assisted Johan’s family with R30,000 for his medical needs.
ANGEL 2: The Good Morning Angels Fund NPC matched that donation with another R30,000 to help Johan’s family with expenses.