VIDEO: Tweet tweet – super media saves the day
Within three hours after Vitalmed posted a tweet requesting donations for a new generator for motor neuron disease sufferer Deon Nel, it was delivered and assembled.
If the power of the social networking service twitter is still being questioned, it proved itself as a superhero on 22 July.
Within three hours after Vitalmed, a private ambulance service from Randpark Ridge in Randburg, posted a tweet requesting donations for a new generator for motor neuron disease sufferer Deon Nel, it was delivered to his home and assembled.
Deon’s wife, Bernice posted a video on facebook showing how she struggled to start their old generator during a two-hour power outage on Saturday 19 July.
The facebook post also explained how the generator kept on backfiring and losing power.
“Prayers got us through the two-hours outage without a backup generator.”
Bernice then asked if anyone could assist her in getting a new generator.She told the news that it was one of the most frightening experiences for both her and Deon as he depends on electricity to breathe as he cannot breathe on his own.
He cannot clear his own chest as he can’t cough either and needs life support equipment, a mechanical ventilator and suction unit, all of which uses electricity.
Vitalmed, the service that regularly transports Deon to and from hospital, noticed Bernice’s plight and decided to help.
Tania du Toit, Vitalmed spokesperson says they tweeted early in the morning that they were looking for sponsors to help them get a new generator to help Deon, who is suffering from the same disease as former Springbok captain Joost van der Westhuizen.
Within minutes @Riz_F1 commented asking how much the generator cost and after about 30 minutes he deposited the required amount, R6 499, for the Vitalmed team to be able to purchase a new generator.
When the team arrived at Makro they were informed that the generator they were looking for had been sold out.
“So Vitalmed and an anonymous donor each gave an amount to purchase the more expensive generator of R8 000,” says Du Toit.
She says they decided to help because Deon is one of their patients and because they want to help Bernice as much as they can as they know how hard she works to make life more comfortable for Deon.
Bernice says when she got the news that Vitalmed has purchased a new generator she was surprised, but when the news sunk in and the generator was delivered she no longer could hold back her tears of joy.
“I was so relieved that this nightmare that we lived with since Saturday’s outage was over and it was a reality that we now had a reliable generator to keep Deon safe.”
She says there are no words that can explain how she and Deon are feeling.
“If Deon could talk he would have been very happy. I thank all those generous angels without wings who made this happen!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0eR4m5a_Lg&feature=youtu.be
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