Danny searches for a helping hand
Danny Jansen van Vuuren is asking for help from someone willing to take care of his sick wife, Carol.
POLOKWANE – His wife, Carol, suffered a stroke and broke her femur after which she was admitted to hospital.
She also suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and while at hospital she developed a bed sore because she could not move.
“They put Carol on a drip for four days, as well as traction weights. Although the hospital was very clean, she did not receive the pain medication as was prescribed by the doctors,” Danny told Review.
He said Carol cannot eat any solids so he has to feed her with a bottle.
“She was discharged on 28 March and the personnel at the hospital explained to me that she had developed a ‘small’ bedsore which had to be cleaned every two to three days. When I saw the bedsore, however, it was not as small as they said at all.
“The hospital personnel informed me to take her back but I cannot do it as it is too difficult for me to carry her,” he said.
“I lost my eye in an accident a few years ago and cannot see properly to clean the wound. I am a barber but I do not make enough money to be able to pay someone a lot of money to help my wife. We both receive South Africa Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants which we use to pay for the medication and ointments she needs. The bedsore is starting to heal but I still have to turn her every two to three hours, something which I cannot do alone,” he explained.
As his wife can no longer eat solid food he has to make smoothies for her. Although they have all the food needed to make smoothies, he does not have the means to do it so he has to struggle to make the smoothies by hand.
“Carol and I have been married for 49 years. We lost everything we had three years ago and have since struggled to get back on our feet and to keep our heads above water.
“Although we struggle to make ends meet, we still manage. What we are in dire need of, however, is a good Samaritan who would be willing to help me take care of my wife,” he pleaded.
