Tweni man needs your support to fight rare disease

Andrew De Witt (27) of Umtentweni has been diagnosed with transverse myelitis – a very rare and serious disease – for which he could never have prepared himself.

Transverse myelitis is an inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord which leads the immune system to attack the body’s own healthy cells.

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Andrew’s friends, Stacy Olivier and Riaan Nel are trying to raise funds to put towards Andrew’s medical bills, which are piling up.

“He is our best friend and our brother. He’s always been willing to assist everyone where and when he can, so we decided to return the favour and try and help Andrew make it through this ordeal,” said Riaan.

On the morning of October 24, 2018 Andrew woke up with pins and needles in his left arm.

He initially shrugged it off, but soon his right arm and both his legs were also affected.

A visit to the doctor the following day resulted in a diagnosis of a pinched pinch nerve in his neck and a prescription for anti inflammatories and pain medication.

As time passed and his symptoms persisted, Andrew sought a second opinion.

“After losing all feeling and motion in his arms, hands and lower body, and being admitted to three different hospitals, a battery of tests including MRIs, brain scans, nerve conduction tests, and electromyographies, Andrew heard he had transverse myelitis,” said Riaan.

He was treated with a heavy dose of steroids and sent home with strong steroids in an attempt to fight the disease.

However, when more blood tests were run to see how the steroids were working, it was found that Andrew had developed a critical shortage of white blood cells, resulting in the steroids attacking his kidneys and liver.

Riaan said Andrew had been in and out of the hospital for several months, and is currently in isolation in hospital being treated for a infection in his leg.

Andrew now needs to receive a stem cell transplant to replace the cells and tissue damaged by the disease, and give him the best chance of recovering.

This transplant alone costs R350 000, and is not covered by his medical aid scheme.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up and Riaan and Stacy have also organised a raffle, which they are asking the public to support.

Tickets are currently on sale and there are great prizes to be won. The friends are calling on any businesses to donate prizes for their raffles.

If you would like to assist Andrew or buy a raffle ticket, call Riaan at 066 2644 816 or Stacy at 062 009 5099. Follow Andrew’s journey on the Facebook page: The fight for the cure.

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