Local schoolgirl given new chance at sight
A Laerskool Rynfield girl was able to receive an eye operation after her teachers and peers collected more than R15 500, although, soon afterwards, the doctor decided to do the operation pro bono.
Talya Grobbelaar (10) was diagnosed with acute angle-closure glaucoma on January 7, but as she didn’t respond to medication, an operation was the only option to prevent future blindness.
As the operations would have cost R33 000 per eye at an unspecified specialist, Talya’s parents asked the school for support and they responded with a proposal to spell out her initials using banknotes.
The laying of notes was inspired by a tradition in which people lay coins along predetermined lines to show support for a particular cause.
“We thought a coin laying ceremony would be nice, but of course coins in South Africa aren’t worth that much anymore, so we decided to go with banknotes,” said school principal Walter Janse van Rensburg.
Chantel le Grange, the school’s counsellor, said Rynfield started a committee at the beginning of last year, with the goal of supporting pupils in situations similar to that of Talya.
Soon after the laying of notes, however, Dr Charl Weitz decided to do the operations free of charge, which means only the costs of medication and glasses would have to be covered by the money collected.
Le Grange said that, after Talya’s medical costs are taken care of, other children in the school with eye-problems will be helped.
“We’re going to pay off Talya’s medical bills as they come, then help other children in the school who have serious medical needs with the rest of the money,” said le Grange.
Weitz, who comes through to consult at the Healthy Eye Clinic in Western Extension twice a week, is based at the Pretoria Eye Institute, where he treated Talya.
According to Weitz’s assistant, Talya has acute angle-closure glaucoma, which is extremely rare in children.
She was treated with lasers on Tuesday, February 2, in order to relieve pressure on her eyes, which were causing her pain and headaches.
Weitz’s assistant, who wished to remain anonymous, told the City Times Talya’s lens was extracted and replaced with an intra-ocular lens implant during an operation on Friday, February 5.
At the time of publication, Talya was still recovering and the outcome of the operation was undetermined, but her mother, Rina, said the operation already seemed to bear fruit.
“She’s doing very well and has no more headache,” said Rina.
She added that Talya’s left eye was done on Friday, while the other was due to be done on her birthday, Wednesday, February 10.
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