Beloved Polokwane music teacher and netball coach needs your help

POLOKWANE – Martin van der Westhuizen is a well-loved teacher and netball coach at Mitchell House, but due to medical challenges, is currently not able to be at school.

Van der Westhuizen started to feel ill during a relaxing afternoon braai on April 14.

“I suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous and decided to lie down for a while. About an hour later I got up, but immediately passed out, hitting my head against the door,” he told the Polokwane Review-Observer.

Early the next morning, van der Westhuizen went to the doctor who treated him for an ulcer. Since he was still feeling ill on April 17, his haemoglobin (HB) blood count was tested, and it was 7,4. The normal count is between 13 and 18 and anything under 6,5 is seen as life-threatening.

He was admitted to Mediclinic Limpopo where his HB drastically dropped down to below five due to internal bleeding and he started with blood transfusions.

“For the past six weeks, the biggest challenge for me was that due to the internal bleeding, I am experiencing a lot of dizziness and weakness, causing me not to be able to live a normal daily life. I am bedridden most of the time. It is almost as if my HB and iron levels are on a rollercoaster since it has been a huge struggle to get my HB level above five.”

Van der Westhuizen says he has a history of health problems and therefore prefers to see a specialist, who is familiar with his condition, at Mediclinic Kloof Hospital.

According to van der Westhuizen, the doctors in Polokwane have done several tests, scans and other procedures to be able to pinpoint where the bleeding is coming from.

The results came back negative every time, with no information to pinpoint the source.

The specialist in Pretoria did the same set of tests, scans and procedures and it also came back with no information on where the bleeding was coming from.

So far, van der Westhuizen has received 18 units of blood.

“Doctors have applied for a Capsule Endoscopy procedure, where I have to swallow a camera capsule that takes hundreds of photos while going through my digestive system. This was sent to my medical with motivation and are waiting to get approval. This is the only way that the specialists can see what is going on in my smaller intestine to try and pinpoint the source of the bleeding. Hopefully, I will be able to undergo this endoscopy on May 28.”

As a teacher, this is a difficult time for van der Westhuizen to be sick. It is an exam term, so he had to hand over his preparation to a colleague.

He admits she is very capable, but he would have preferred to handle it himself after walking the journey with his learners.

“I had to cancel all my private music lessons, putting their musical progress on hold, which plays an important part in their development. On top of this, it is a huge loss of income. On the sports front, I had to give up netball coaching and umpiring and even going to SA’s to get my South African Schools Netball (SASN) grading as an umpire. I am also involved with accompanying and training the school choirs and was unable to play for them at the Allegretto Eisteddfod.”

To be alone in a hospital bed is not nice, especially in uncertain times, but luckily Amrian Terblanche, van der Westhuizen’s partner, is with him most of the time.

“If I can get the capsule endoscopy and the doctors can locate the source of the bleeding, they will be able to stop the bleeding with a procedure. I want to take this opportunity to thank my Mitchell House colleagues, friends, and family for all their support, love, and care during this difficult and challenging time.”

Anyone who is able to help van der Westhuizen can use the following banking details:

Account holder: Mr. M.H. van der Westhuizen.

Account: FNB cheque

Account Number: 62249642150

Alternatively, more information can be found on van der Westhuizen’s BackABuddy page here.

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