Standerton’s Chriszelda needs an urgent operation to remove tumour
If Chriszelda Isaacs (32) does not get the tumour urgently removed she could go completely blind within four months.
Chriszelda Isaacs (32) from Standerton is in urgent need of an operation to remove a tumour, retinoblastoma, located behind her eyes. Without this surgery, she risks losing her sight completely within the next four months.
Isaacs is a widow and mother to a nine-year-old boy. She also cares for her elderly mother and father. As an engineering planner at Sasol in Secunda, she is the sole provider for her family.
“Everything is on me — the roof over our heads, food on the table, bills, you name it,” Isaacs said.
In 2023, Isaacs went for a routine eye test. The optometrist raised concerns and referred her to the Eye Institute in Witbank.
Scans revealed the tumour was fully present in her left eye and halfway in her right eye. Isaacs underwent local chemotherapy treatment; however, a follow-up appointment this year showed the tumour had grown larger and more aggressive, indicating the treatment was unsuccessful.
She is now scheduled for surgery on 21 July to remove the tumour.
“If I don’t have the surgery, I could lose my vision within the next four months. I’m the only breadwinner, and if I can’t see, I can’t work,” Isaacs said.
Her greatest worry is losing the ability to see her son grow up. Although Isaacs has medical aid, not all costs are covered. She faces shortfalls and must pay some expenses upfront.
An estimated R60 000 is needed to cover all costs. Her friend, Lizal Joubert, has launched a BackaBuddy campaign to raise funds.
“There is a lot on her shoulders. Seeing her in this situation is heartbreaking. As friends, we want the best for her, but this is beyond what we can manage alone. She urgently needs help,” Joubert said.
With successful surgery, Isaacs could recover up to 95% of her vision, with the remainder restored through corrective lenses.
Currently, she has no vision in her left eye and partial vision in her right eye, relying on prescription eye drops twice daily to manage her eyesight.
Due to the tumour’s size, it cannot be removed through the eye socket. Operating via the forehead above the eye is not an option, so the procedure will require drilling through her skull.
If you would like to donate, visit:
Alternatively, contact Lizal Joubert on 082 817 6836 or Chriszelda Isaacs on 078 432 6663.
