Help to mend a broken heart

When Damian Beukes was born, doctors discover a hole in his heart. They told his parents it should close within six weeks … but it never did.

Two months, a heart scan and a sonar later, Damian was diagnosed with a one-centimetre hole in his heart, as well as a blocked valve. He is short of breath due to a lack of oxygenated blood, and often needs to be given oxygen.

“It is difficult. He turns blue often, and needs to be rushed to hospital to be put on oxygen. The normal oxygen level is anything from 85 per cent and higher. His is 32 per cent,” his mom, Charlene Beukes said.

He needs to have a bypass and open-heart surgery to fix the hole and valve, and he was put on the waiting list at a state hospital. However, his doctor advised his parents to have the procedure done at a private hospital, and he was then referred.

“We are on medical aid, but we don’t know how much they will cover as the procedure will cost anything between R500 000 and R1 million.

Post-surgery costs also need to be taken into account, such as therapy and medication,” Ian Beukes, Damian’s father said.

There is a 40 per cent chance that the valve will expand as Damian grows, otherwise he will need a second operation when he is eight years old.

The family is in the process of creating a non-profit fund for Damian to cover whatever amount not covered by the medical aid. The money left after all Damian’s costs have been covered will be used to create a Heart Fund to benefit children like Damian. The family would also like to establish a ward that specialises in heart problems, if they are able to.

If you would like to assist the family with any donations, you can deposit money into the following bank account: Damian Beukes, FNB, account no 626 323 17980 and branch code 250655.

Once the non-profit fund has been established, the money will be transferred to it.

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