Good Morning Angels: Giving life saving surgery to people in need for Mandela Day with Operation Healing Hands

GOOD MORNING ANGELS 13 JULY 2016

Operation Healing Hands: PART 2 Giving life saving and changing surgery to people in need for Mandela Day

BACKGROUND: In 2009 International Nelson Mandela Day was launched in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July, via unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly. 

It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made a year earlier, on his 90th birthday, for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices when he said that “it is in your hands now”. It is more than a celebration of Madiba’s life and legacy. It is a global movement to honour his life’s work and act to change the world for the better. 

Operation Healing Hands is the idea of a Pretoria orthopedic 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 will now help 14 patients: seven at each of the Pretoria Life Hospitals, over two weeks starting on Mandela Day on Monday 18 July 2016. 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!

Dr. Anneme, one of the doctors that will be involved during the operations.

MORE INFO:   www.operationhealinghands.org

TODAY WE MEET THE PATIENTS WHO WILL RECEIVE THEIR OPERATIONS FROM 25 - 29 JULY 2016 AT LIFE GROENKLOOF HOSPITAL IN PRETORIA

PATIENT 8: 56-year old Schalk Van Vuuren

BACKGROUND: Schalk has been unable to work since September 2012. He could not continue working, due to the severe pain he is suffering due to a hip problem. He needs constant pain medication and cannot walk without crutches. He has a 10-year old daughter and the family’s only income is a state subsidy for her care. Schalk visits his local state hospital for pain medication, but he has been informed that he needs a total hip replacement - and he has been on a waiting list for the past four years. Stalk and his family have sold what they could to cover every day living expenses and rent. He is confident that he would find a job and earn an income again - if only he can get the operation. He believes that this will not only bring him relief, but put him in a position to earn a living and care for his family again.  

OPERATION: Schalk will be receiving a total right hip replacement. After the operation, he will be receiving physiotherapy and all the after care needed to ensure that  he can resume his life and find a job - pain free!

PATIENT 9: 54-year old Maria Khubai

BACKGROUND: Maria has been struggling with a horse voice and sore throat for more than a year. As a state pensioner, she has visited the state medical facilities several times. She has been told that she had severe flu, asthma and laryngitis. There has been no improvement in her condition - in fact  - it has gotten worse with time. She went to see a doctor once again - and after a scan and tests, it was confirmed that she actually had a tumour on her vocal chords or “voice box”. This has enlarged to the point that it could block her air-pipe and prevent her from breathing. 

OPERATION: Maria will be getting a highly specialised 12 hour operation, done by two specialists. he first will remove the  Supraglottic tumour from her vocal chords. The second specialist is a plastic surgeon, who will take skin from her shoulder to repair the scarring to her neck. The doctors believe that if this is not done, she could potentially suffocate as the tumour keeps growing aggressively. 

PATIENT 10: 9-year old “E”

BACKGROUND: “E” is a resident at the Bramley House for vulnerable and orphaned children. She is a bright young student at a Pretoria Primary School. She has however been suffering from severe, recurring tonsillitis. This has taken its toll on her energy levels and general wellbeing, which is impacting on her ability to learn and keep up with school work. Her tonsils have enlarged to such a state, that it is obstructing her throat, which makes swallowing food difficult and painful. She also has difficulty breathing - especially when sleeping.  

OPERATION: “E” will have her tonsils and adenoids removed. This will rid her of the constant infections, discomfort and potential risk of hearing problems and deteriorating health. 

PATIENT 11: 4-year old "M"

BACKGROUND: This little boy has been struggling with severe ear infection, caused by recurring tonsillitis. He was born HIV positive, which is already affecting his immune system and his body’s ability to fight infection. He is a resident at the Abba Children’s Home in Pretoria, but will be reunited with his father in a few months to come. His health is however an immediate priority.

OPERATION: Little “M” has been seen an Operation Healing Hands specialist, who has found that his tonsils are the cause for his constant ear ache. He will have his tonsils and adenoids removed. 

PATIENT 12: 44-year old Martina Ackerman

BACKGROUND: Martina is a single mother of three sons. She works as a store manager in Johannesburg. She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer on 14 February 2012. Martina has a history of cancer in the family and has lost her mother and other family members to the disease. At the time she was 40-years old and determined to raise her three sons. With her son’s support, Martina started her journey against cancer at the Helen Joseph and Jo’burg Gen hospitals. She has chemo a double mastectomy and radiation. “Four years later I am here stronger than ever. I won’t give up - I cant give up. The minute I feel like giving up I see my kids giving me a smile and a "I love you mom”. Martina has survived the cancer and now she “want’s to feel like a woman again”. Because of the radiation treatment, she cannot have ordinary breast implants and reconstructive surgery is needed to build up new breasts. The state hospitals do not cover this kind of surgery and Martina is not in a position to afford to pay for it at a private hospital.  

OPERATION: An Operation Healing Hands plastic surgeon will do reconstructive surgery to build up Martina’s breasts with muscle flaps.  

PATIENT 13 AND 14: Two Children receiving chemo therapy for cancer at the Steve Biko Paediatric Oncology Unit

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer has become alarmingly common, with many families not able to afford private health care to save their children’s lives. the Steve Biko Children’s Cancer Unit delivers excellent care to their young state patients. The treatment however takes its toll on their young bodies. it has become the norm in private health care facilities to implant a “port” for patients who have to get drips in their veins often - like in the case of chemo therapy. This however is a cost that state funds cannot absorb and needs to be paid for privately. Many families cannot afford this implant, that takes could relieve a lot of the pain in discomfort for these brave little fighters.

OPERATION: Two young cancer patients will receive port implants to assist them with less painful chemo therapy.