Secunda-mom dies after year-long battle to gain weight
“We want to celebrate her life. Katinka was a doting wife who always wanted to help others, even in her darkest hour.”
SECUNDA – Ms Katinka Steyn fought hard to spent at least one last Christmas with her beloved family.
She did not want to spend a second Christmas in hospital. She died in the Mediclinic Highveld on Friday night, 8 January.
This 41-year-old mother of two spent most of 2020 in and out of hospital after emergency surgery for a ruptured ulcer in December 2019.
She still had a remaining ulcer and had difficulty to eat.
Before the ruptured ulcer, Ms Steyn weighed almost 90kg and suffered from cellulitis in her left leg which became infected.
Since December 2019, her body wasted away until she barely weighed 37kg in June last year. Although her weight fluctuated and she tried very hard to gain some extra kilogrammes, Ms Steyn eventually weighed less than 40kg when she died.
“Katinka was released from hospital in Pretoria on 24 December, but had to be readmitted for medical care on 31 December,” explained her husband of 21 years, Mr Manie Steyn.
The couple were high school sweethearts and remained at each other’s side until the end. They have a daughter, Marinda (8) and a son, Boeta (5).
Mr Steyn said his wife’s suffering is now over and he and the kids want to remember her as she was before she fell ill.
“We want to celebrate her life. Katinka was a doting wife who always wanted to help others, even in her darkest hour.”
He recently realised just how many people’s lives she had enriched.
He thanked Roman Alarms for the 23 years that Katinka had worked for them, and also Prince of Tides for their support during this difficult time.
Ms Steyn’s funeral is on Thursday, 14 January at 11am out of the NG Church Goedehoop, but due to Covid-19 attendance will be limited.
