Kirsty Leigh is living on memories

Ballito resident Kirsty Leigh has been courageously fighting a rare neurological-neuromuscular lung condition coupled with epilepsy, which has left her bedridden for four years and in need of 24 hour access to a ventilator and oxygen.

Her only “outings” are trips in the ambulance to and from hospital, as she has undergone 35 surgeries and surgical procedures.

“I never get to see anything outside as the windows in ambulances are tinted,” said Leigh, who fell ill about ten years ago and has been fighting to live ever since.

“I had a wish to make a memory of a birthday shopping trip at the Ballito Junction.

“Just being able to feel the vibe, see the shops, and get something to drink with my mom (Charmaine), who is my 24 hour nurse.”

On a stretcher bed, her mom and her service dog Gigibell by her side as well as an entire medical team, Leigh managed to visit three shops.

“We went for a ventilator break after the first shop and then a milkshake at Tashas. The sound of chatting over the smell of coffee filled the room – basic memories we take for granted. The paramedics had to take me home after the third shop as I pushed myself a bit too much.

“I started to feel very confused and just after we left, I started having seizures, but luckily Netcare had everything under control.”

Ballito Junction CEO Geraldine Jorgensen said Leigh is an inspiration to everyone she meets.

“Kirsty Leigh is an exceptional young woman and we feel extremely privileged that she chose to spend her birthday with us,” said Jorgensen.

Leigh thanked Pick n Pay, the Wednesday Club who deliver their weekly groceries and helped set up the outing, Quentin Power from Specialised Rescue Unit, Netcare paramedics Diana, Murray and Collin, the staff at Edgars and Dischem and Ballito Junction management for making the memorable trip possible.

“Ballito is a very charitable place – the community are willing, ready and able to help. I am so grateful to everyone who helped make one of my wishes come true – to create a memory, because memories are all we leave with.”

The next step

Being half Scottish with a European passport, Leigh is hopeful to make a long, difficult trip to Scotland, where a doctor specialising in rare diseases could help prolong her life.

Not being able to fly due to her weak lungs, she will have to be taken to Cape Town in an ambulance, get on a cruise ship to Southampton and then travel to Scotland by ambulance.

“We have spent over R3 million on medical fees and my medical aid has been exhausted. My monthly costs in medical supplies costs about R74 000. We have run out of money and I am running out of time, so we are trying to raise funds to get me to Scotland,” said Leigh.

If you would like to help Leigh get to Scotland, send a mail to getkirsty2scotland@gmail.com

In the meantime, Quentin Power, together with the Wednesday Club is trying to help set up a medical aid for Leigh until she has raised enough funds to go to Scotland.

“Kirsty does not have any medical cover at the moment. If anyone can help get Kirsty onto a medical aid, even just a hospital plan, while she is still in South African, it would take a lot of pressure off Kirsty and her mom.”

If you would like to help, contact Quentin on 082 789 3332.

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