TLC Ward receives big donation to relieve pain

“This donation means the world to us. We are now able to relieve pain and prevent the children from being pricked by a needle searching for veins, getting chemo or to draw blood,” Bobby Were, TLC facilitator from the Cansa Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Oncology Ward of the Polokwane Provincial Hospital said after a generous donation of R40 000 was received recently.
Mmabogoshi Mzisa, owner of Limpopo Guest Manor and Maggie Makgabo, owner of a construction company put their heads together to raise money for the ward. Were explained that Mzisa has been helping out the ward for almost three years and that she recently asked them what they needed the most. Were explained to Mzisa about the situation of the children being traumatised when pricked by needles and that they are planning to place catheters in patients to prevent chemotherapy from harming their skin and making the treatment less painful.
Were explained that the catheters they intend using are of the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) type that allow a soft, special type of rubber (silicone) intravenous catheter to be placed into the patient without the need for repeated peripheral intravenous pricks. The tunnel-type catheter is placed directly into a central vein, usually in the neck, upper chest or groin from where it proceeds to a position just above the heart. It is brought out on the chest or thigh away from the site where it enters the vein.
The purpose the catheter under the skin is to help prevent infection. A small cuff is located around the catheter, about one inch inside the place where the tube enters the patient’s skin. Skin grows into this cuff and keeps the catheter in place.
Tunneled catheters have one, two or three outside openings. These openings are used for many kinds of medical treatments (fluids, medicines, blood samples). With such a catheter inserted the patients does not need to receive a needle each time.
Were explained that one of these cost R4 500 and that they are now able to help 12 out of 80 patients.
“We thought that we must first help patients with Leukaemia, because they usually receive more chemo and infants to ease the pain. But we will look at patients who need it more and whose skin is damaged by the chemo.”
Vera van Dalen, National Project Manager for Paediatric Oncology Support said that an operation like this will be done in Pretoria and will only take about half an hour.
Mzisa said that she believes if God is blessing you, you must give back to the community. “We must be glad that we are not ill. We can get inspiration from the children who are so brave fighting cancer.”
The children and mothers were also treated to a party afterwards.

LEANDRI VAN SCHALKWYK
>>leandri.observer@gmail.com