It only takes 30 minutes to donate blood yet only 3% of South Africans are donors.

And for Richards Bay Christian School pupil, Willem van der Merwe this small percentage played a big role in saving his life.
When the 15-year-old was just three months old he fell ill with pneumonia and shortly after was diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis, a heart condition. He was admitted into ICU, put on life support and received his first blood transfusion.

In 2012 it was decided that the mitral valve must be replaced.

‘I went for open heart surgery in Johannesburg on the 3 December and I was surprised to learn that on the same date in 1953 Dr Chris Barnard performed the first heart transplant in South Africa.

‘Because I now have a mechanic valve there is a risk that the blood can clot around it and prevent it from functioning.
‘To prevent this I am on chronic waferin, a blood thinning medication that I have to take for the rest of my life.

‘To make sure that the blood is thin enough and to control my doses I need to go for blood tests every month.

‘I am a living miracle, the prognosis as a baby was very bad and there was no hope, but God gave me a second chance.

‘I thank Him for the people that generously donate blood and a special thanks to my dad for his commitment and promise to donate blood for as long as I have to undergo blood tests,’ said Willem.

To know more about donating blood click HERE 

Footnote:

The mitral valve is found in the left side of the heart and is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood into the lower half of the heart to be pumped into the whole body. Mitral valve stenosis is heart condition where this valve does not open properly or becomes stiff.

As a result not much blood can be pumped into the bottom left chamber of the heart and the top left area of the heart increases in size because of all the trapped blood. This puts pressure on the lungs and can make it difficult to breathe.