GEORGE NEWS - A number of fundraising efforts will be organised in the coming year to help Georgian Frik du Preez, a father of two young boys, to stay alive until his medical aid benefits for dialysis treatments kick in next year February.
Du Preez (37), who has been receiving chronic treatment for leukaemia since the age of 18, had a severe setback in November last year when he was hospitalised after renal failure.
His wife, Lodyn, says there was no treatment the State would allow the doctors to prescribe.
"The only solution was dialysis, but because Frik already had a blood disease, this automatically disqualified him to receive the treatment through the State.
"Through the help of friends and family and the amazing doctors at the George Hospital, Frik was referred to National Renal Care and treatment started. This was said to have saved his life."
Treatments paid in cash
Though every treatment had to be paid in cash, they managed to keep him on the treatment with the help of numerous sponsors.
"In December Frik applied for a medical aid, and because of his medical history this was a long and difficult application. At the end of January, he was approved and accepted at Discovery, but a waiting period of 12 months is applicable before the medical aid will start paying for his dialysis treatments," says Lodyn.
The Du Preez family is in a predicament as they have to pay cash for every treatment for the rest of the year and at three sessions per week at a rate of R1 500, it is not within their reach.
Frik with his two sons, Darius and Regardt.
The couple has two boys and they survive on Lodyn's salary since Frik is not able to work full-time.
"Last month, Frik was offered a lower treatment rate by Fresenius Medical Care South Africa. This is contingent on the account being kept up to date," says Lodyn.
Together with FMC, they have decided to reduce his sessions from three to two per week to make it more affordable, but this is not ideal and it is still to be seen if he will be able to cope.
Fundraising tomorrow evening
With the help of a friend, she will be trying to do regular fundraising this year until the medical aid payments are activated.
She will start by having a children's table, selling sweets, at the monthly entrepreneurs' market at Getafix Garden Café at the Garden Route Botanical Garden tomorrow evening, Friday 2 March.
She will also be at the market at Unity Park, York Street, on Saturday morning.
People can also buy raffle tickets at R10 for a cleaning hamper sponsored by Ritechem (c/o Merriman and Victoria streets).
A Facebook page, Help Frik, has been launched with details of how people can donate towards Frik's dialysis treatments.
For raffle tickets or more information, phone Lodyn on 072 372 1713.
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