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2nd HEART ATTACK - MEDICAL AID TOO SLOW

Many of you may know that Ansie Reitsma suffered a massive heart attack with pulmonary edema in July 2023. After spending two 14 day stays in the ICU the doctors have concluded that she needs a heart valve inserted (Transcatheter aortic valve replacement). She is too weak to have open heart surgery, which would have been preferable as she had other minor problems they wanted to sort out.

The heart valve procedure, however, will cost around R500 000. Her medical aid is slow to indicate if they will cover costs in full or what percentage thereof. The cardiologists are trying to negotiate Ex Gratia assistance from them, but she is waiting too long. The doctors said if she does not have the procedure she could be in hospital every few weeks.

This is not a sustainable situation. We are already at the end of November and Ansie is very weak and struggling. Her health is deteriorating. She has now suffered another heart attack (26th Nov 2023) and is back in hospital – and they have already found further complications.

As you may know, Ansie is now retired with a small Government Service Pension. She cannot afford to pay the medical bills the medical aid will not cover (now amounting to just under R17 000) and they have put her under pressure to pay it within 4 months. And this is just the beginning of her medical bills.

Ansie has a big heart and has given selflessly and tirelessly to the community since moving to Stanford about 24 years ago and is a well known figure in the village. So we as Ansie’s friends would like to give back and help as much as we can.

Please lend a hand if you can - whatever you can manage - even if it’s a few bucks.

ANSIE's HOSPITAL BILLS:

1. Outstanding from July not covered by her medical aid: R17 000
2. Bills to be covered hospital stay November: As yet unknown
3. Quote from cardiologists for heart valve procedure: " Net die klep self is R233 450.00 dis nog nie die dr's ingesluit nie asook nie die hospital nie, die bedrag kan draai by ongeveer R500 000.00. Dan is daar ook nog die sentinel opsie wat gebruik word gedurende die procedure om 'n beroerte te voorkom dis ook nog 'n ekstra R44 500.00"

The bills/invoices come from different hospitals, so we have arranged for this BackaBuddy fund's monthly payments to be made to Ansie's private account.

Once we know the exact amount to be paid for the procedure we can arrange for payments to be made directly to the hospital.

Please watch this page for updates.

Thank you from the heart (no pun intended).
Stanford, Western Cape.

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