Organ Donor Month: Sunward Park gran still desperate to help grandson
Conor is still urgently in need of a kidney.
South Africa is a world leader in the field of organ transplantation.
Despite this, the serious shortage of potential donors remains a great concern as the number of patients waiting for transplants continues to spike.
Santie Botha of Sunward Park believes many lives can be saved if more people become organ donors.
August is Organ Donor Month and Boksburg Advertiser spoke to Botha, who is desperately seeking a kidney donor for her grandson, Conor van Baalen.
Conor became extremely ill when he was almost two years old.
The only thing that could help Conor was a kidney transplant. His parents, Hennie and Santie, instantly began a quest to find Conor a kidney. About a year later, Danie de Wet overheard Hennie telling people how urgently Conor needed the organ and donated his kidney to the youngster.
The surgery was done at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre on February 25, 2020.
Santie said the kidney transplant was a success, but the new kidney did not last, and Conor’s genetic condition is incurable.
The concerned grandmother told the Boksburg Advertiser said the boy is not doing well at the moment.
“We were told that Conor is running out of time. He still has to go for dialysis three times a week. The only thing that will help him is a new kidney,” she said.
She urged community members to become organ donors.
According to the Organ Donor Foundation’s website, one organ donor can save seven lives.
Learn more about organ donation from the Organ Donation Foundation at odf.org.za.
Funds
Santie said they also need funds to cover his medical bills that are piling up.
“Even taking him daily to Morningside is expensive due to the cost of petrol,” said Santie.
Anybody who can assist may call Santie on 082 959 0753 or visit www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/conor-van-baalen-5661700690121751995
Community members can follow Conor’s journey on Facebook, Hope for Conor, at https://www.facebook.com/hopeforconor/
Also Read: Boy needs another kidney
Also Read: Hope for little Conor a year after kidney transplant
