Personal message

My stepdaughter, Carla van Nieuwenhuizen, has been a blessing in my life for the past three years. Now, she needs financial help.

The last 8 weeks have been tough for her, myself, and Mom Marlene. It started with bronchitis, and two weeks later, she got pneumonia. She was immediately admitted to Highcare and placed on oxygen. An aspiration test revealed that she aspirates when she drinks water. The next day, she had a small operation to insert a PEG feeding tube into her stomach.

While still in High Care, Carla felt unwell. They tried suction and gave her 100% oxygen, but it had no effect. The doctor was called, and he inserted a trachea. Now she's on a ventilator and sedated. She has been moved to ICU, where she's improved and is now breathing on her own, though the trachea is still connected to the ventilator.

It looks like we'll be celebrating Christmas with her in ICU, and as long as we're together, the location doesn't matter. Carla's life will be different, and we need help coping with these changes.

The funds we receive will help us visit her every day. It costs R300 per trip from Krugersdorp to Pretoria. Currently, we visit from 15:00 to 16:00, then stay in the area to visit her again at 19:15 until 20:00. If she moves to High Care, we can visit her the whole day, which would be fantastic.

The funds will also be used to buy necessary food, etc., to mix and feed her through the PEG.

Those who know Carla and Mom, Marlene, will be aware that Marlene is also dealing with health issues after two years of hospital visits and 12 operations to finally have a successful hip replacement. However, she will always walk with a crutch as some of her muscles were damaged.

It would relieve so much stress from Marlene if she knows there is help.

Can you please help us get all the necessary things to make these changes easier for Carla? She is our rainbow child, and we love her more than life itself.

God bless you.

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