Fund-raising continues for Ashley’s heart operation
A seven-month-old infant still awaits an urgent and life-saving operation as fund-raising efforts are slow to bear fruit.
Ashley Meerkotter was born with ventricular septal defect, more commonly known as a hole in her heart, and requires an operation to fix it, alternatively facing organ failure.
Her father, Adriaan, says their fund-raising initiative continues after a charity golf day held in July was unsuccessful.
Ashley’s condition is currently being treated by cardiologists at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.
According to Adriaan, the hospital’s existing fund, which was founded by the Round Table Organisation, will be endorsing the operation. However, Adriaan and his wife are both unemployed and are trying to raise funds for additional expenses, like post-op care, transport to and from the hospital, and accommodation.
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While a sum of R18 000 was raised by the charity golf day hosted in July, the funds have already been spent on frequent visits to the specialists and Adriaan and Elmarie (Ashley’s mother) are back to square one.
“We went to the hospital last week Friday, but the surgeons overseeing Ashley’s case were unavailable, meaning the date of the procedure is not yet diarised,” Adriaan told the Middelburg Observer.
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While the family waits to hear from the surgical team on a date for the operation, they continue to create awareness on social media and have since created a Click n Donate account for Ashley to raise more funds.
A TikTok account created under the name Ashley Meerkotter also airs videos, where Adriaan and Elmarie keep donors up-to-date on her treatment.
Adriaan also specialises as an IT support technician with 23 years of experience in the field.
Should anyone wish to contact him for more information about funding or a possible job opportunity, please call 072 057 1255.
