Life-saving funds needed by Eastleigh resident
“I spent a month at home after I had discharged myself, but my condition got worse and I was bedridden.”
In the hope of raising life-saving funds, Eastleigh resident, Eron Wright, appealed to the community for assistance.
Earlier this year Eron was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which resulted in him depending on haemodialysis (dialysis) to stay alive.
Eron’s mother, Petra, said family members could only assist Eron by providing funds.
“Due to existing kidney disease in the family, unmatching blood types, his family members are unable to donate their organs to him,” said Petra.
The 32-year-old first noticed something was wrong in April when he displayed symptoms of flu which were followed by vomiting blood and bile.
At first, he didn’t think much of the flu symptoms, but became concerned when he started vomiting.
In the hope of establishing what the problem might be, Eron went to Germiston Hospital, but was later transferred to a Vosloorus hospital (Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital) at the beginning of May.
At a hospital facility in Vosloorus, Eron was given several blood transfusions and had several blood tests done.
“After the transfusions, I was informed that my creatinine and urea levels in my blood were very high, and my haemoglobin levels were low.”
Eron said his urea was 88.1 millimoles per litre, his creatinine was 2167 micromole per litre and his haemoglobin was at 5.6 litres.
He said the normal levels for urea are between 2.1 and 7.1 millimoles per litre, 64 -104 micromoles per litre for creatinine and haemoglobin levels should be between 13.4 litres and 17.5 litres.
“I never really felt unwell, I was active and I was walking around.”
At Vosloorus an estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) test was done which revealed that Eron’s kidneys were functioning at two per cent.
Eron said despite the test results, he felt confident and healthy enough to discharge himself from the hospital.
He said while at Vosloorus, he and his girlfriend, Candice, decided he would have to go to Thailand to receive medical treatment.
He said in Thailand the treatment would be cheaper.
The couple sold most of their possessions to raise over R100 000 for their trip.
“We had money for the overseas trip, accommodation sorted out, and were preparing to buy our tickets.”
However, the couple’s dreams were cut short.
“I spent a month at home after I had discharged myself, but my condition got worse and I was bedridden.
“A few days later, Candice called an ambulance. When the paramedics moved my legs, I felt extreme pain and blacked out.”
During his blackout, Eron spent just over three days at Edenvale Hospital where he had several seizures.
“I had seizures because my urea levels were too high, and it hit my brain.”
When Eron awoke from his blackout, he was in Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. He had been transferred to the hospital’s renal ward because of the severity of the CKD.
“At Charlotte Maxeke, the hospital staff pumped fluids into me to bring my urea and creatinine levels down.
“I was informed after another EGFR test was done that my kidneys were functioning at three per cent.”
After conducting further tests, the hospital staff established that Eron suffered from CKD.
While at the hospital, a permacath was placed inside Eron’s chest, and an arteriovenous fistula was placed in his arm for dialysis.
On July 12, Eron received his diagnosis. He was told he needed dialysis, but the waiting list in Gauteng was over a year long.
“I had no option but to seek private treatment at Optimum Kidney Dialysis Care facility in Karaglen four months ago.”
Each week Eron needs three dialysis sessions.
Eron said he used the funds he and Candice had collected, by selling their possessions, to pay off their debts.
After doing so, Eron had enough money left for a month’s dialysis treatment.
The rest of the funds needed to ensure Eron was cared for and received dialysis, was provided for by his family.
However, Eron said his family can only provide funds until the end of 2019.
Pretra said the family is hoping to raise R250 000 for the annual dialysis treatment through fund-raising initiatives.
Fund-raising initiatives by the family include the raffling of a cake made by Tania Riley from Cake Arts, the selling of jewellery at markets and the creation of a back-a-buddy account.
The raffle ends on December 20.
Eron said although he tried to host a fund-raising event in Benoni, nobody could accommodate his planned events.
To enter the raffle for the Christmas Cake, assist with fund-raising, or offer fund-raising advice to the family, email wright.petra@gmail.com or eron.wright27@gmail.com
