GEORGE NEWS - When the nine-year-old Lelitha Jantjies walked back into her Pacaltsdorp classroom after surgery in 2023, few could have imagined the ripple effect her healing would inspire.
Two years later, her story, along with Knysna's Miguel Mianna's (5), stands at the heart of the Dr Ansua Foundation, which has since changed 31 lives.
On 11 September, the foundation marked its second anniversary, having transformed lives through life-changing surgeries.
Founded by Dr Ansua Steyn, the foundation provides critical medical care to those overlooked by the healthcare system, restoring dignity and hope.
Despite funding challenges, with many surgeries financed by Steyn and her husband, the foundation's work, supported by generous medical professionals and community events, earned national recognition on Carte Blanche.
The foundation's journey began in September 2023 with Lelitha.
Her life-altering surgery, covered by George Herald, marked her recovery and return to school by November 2023. Lelitha's story set the foundation's mission in motion: to offer not just medical interventions, but new opportunities.
"Every patient we help carries a story of hope," says Steyn. "Our mission is to restore not only their health, but also their ability to live without shame or fear."
Dr Ansua Steyn and her patient for July, Miguel Mianna (5).
In July, the foundation celebrated one of its more recent successes with Miguel Mianna, a young boy from Knysna born with polydactyly, an extra thumb.
At the George Provincial Hospital, Dr Marshall Murdoch and Dr Catherine Knight performed a successful polydactyly correction surgery, removing the extra digit and reconstructing the thumb for improved function and aesthetics.
"Miguel's smile, Lelitha's return to school - these are the moments that drive us," says Steyn.
The foundation also provided recovery support, ensuring Miguel's full healing.
From keloid removals to corneal transplants, the foundation's 31 cases - a minimum of one a month - reflect its commitment to compassionate care. Next in line for October is the case of a 12-year-old girl who will undergo breast reduction surgery.
Her unusually large breast development is the result of her body's response to hormonal changes, and the procedure will not only ease physical discomfort, but also restore her confidence at a young age.
For more information, visit ansua.co.za.
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