Ouma Audrey rescued from her filthy misery

FOUND in her own excrement, with flies in her eyes and mouth, a bucket as a toilet and some hard mouldy rolls to eat, Audrey Teitge (85) has been rescued from her misery.

Owners of Dolphins Corner in Pomona, husband and wife Hercules and Mathilda Jansen van Vuuren, have opened their doors and hearts to this elderly woman who was found at a camp for destitute people on the outskirts of Brakpan on January 30 this year.

Teitge, affectionately known as Ouma Audrey, was abandoned alone in a rondawel. It is not known how long she had been left to fend for herself.

“One of the residents of the camp was walking past the rondawel when she heard a noise and someone in a small voice crying for help. This was when she found Ouma in a frightful state,” explained Mathilda.

“The stench was disgusting and she was terrified to leave the room. After being bribed with a cigarette, she was carried to a chair in the sun and was given food,” she added.

Mathilda further explained that a support group called Hope Project returned the following day with paramedics.

“Ouma was cleaned and an ambulance took her to hospital to be treated for dehydration and malnutrition. We were told she might not make it past the next 48 hours.”

According to Mathilda, Hope Project searched for any family members or a place to take Ouma Audrey when she was released from hospital. The only information Ouma gave them was that she had four sons, one of whom was deceased. She does not know where her other sons are or any other relatives.

“Her ‘caregivers’ later appeared out of nowhere and said they had just found her and taken her in.

When confronted about the condition she was found in, all kinds of excuses came up and that’s when the support group decided to make moving the elderly woman their priority,” added Mathilda.

“The owners of B4C Cross Fit Gym at Greenstone stepped in and offered their support to find appropriate accommodation for Ouma Audrey. Dolphins Corner was nominated and Ouma was brought to our facility to be accommodated immediately.”

Dolphins Corner is a wedding venue, guesthouse, dance and karate academy as well as a safe haven for the frail and elderly

“When we were requested to assist with accommodation for Ouma Audrey, we had to evaluate the circumstances since we did not have a room available. It worried me so much that I felt pressured by the urge to assist this elderly woman that has suffered so much under the hands of the people that were supposed to take care of her,” explained Mathilda.

“We made a plan at our facility to allocate a room to Ouma and with the help and assistance of the angels from Project Hope and contributions from B4C management and clients from the Cross Fit Gym in Edenvale, Ouma’s accommodation was made possible.

“Ouma has a long road ahead of her to heal from the abuse and neglect she endured over a long time but thankfully she will now have a life filled with love and care to look forward to,” she added.

Mathilda said Teitge had been seen by a local GP where she was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer and an infection which she had been treated for.

“She has adapted very well to her new environment, treasures her bed and cannot believe all the food she can eat. She has stopped smoking and loves sweets, and also enjoys the company of the other guests at the facility.”

The facility can accommodate 13 elderly people, with a reliable team of workers, caregivers and nurses to see to their daily needs, general care, bathing where needed, room cleaning, nursing, laundry, administration of medication, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and all drinks at any time.

From time to time the guests are taken on outings.

The concept of Dolphins Corner started nine years ago as a calling for Mathilda and her husband.

“We started with the planning towards a large facility to accommodate 44 elderly, frail or guests with ailments in a guesthouse environment. The finances and some obstacles prevented the plan to go as big as the dream, but a second bond allowed us to build on our existing home to eventually accommodate only 13 guests on the same concept of the original plan.”