Cancer patient on mission to make most of Easter as he awaits surgery

Unable to afford to fly to Cape Town to receive much-needed abdominal surgery, a single father of four, left in pain and with very little hope, said he would celebrate this Easter as if it were his last.

The Eastern Cape man, Kervin Smith, who has cancer, said he had been left to suffer in pain after allegedly being refused abdominal surgery in East London.

Told further there were no abdominal surgeons available at public hospitals in the Eastern Cape to assist, he must now raise about R125,000 for emergency treatment in Cape Town, an amount he cannot afford.

In chronic pain, Smith said he was mostly immobile.

At most, Smith, who works as a diesel mechanic, manages to walk for a short period of time before he has to sit down.

“It’s just frustrating at this point,” Smith, 43, who lives in Summerwood, said.

“I’m really depressed.”

In an emotional interview, Smith said he had approached Frere Hospital last year out of pure desperation.

He was diagnosed with cancer in his large intestine.

“My doctor said there are no abdominal surgeons in the province and referred me to Cape Town,” he said.

Smith does not have medical aid.

“My doctor said it will cost about R125,000. I don’t have that kind of money lying around.”

Smith said he was now praying for a miracle.

“I just want to get rid of this pain.

“As a single father, I can’t be there for my kids as much as I would like to, but I will give it my all this Easter period, especially if it’s my last,” he said.

“I am not asking for funds; I just want a good Samaritan to do the surgery.”

Head of the Solidarity Doctors’ Forum advisory board, Dr Angelique Coetzee, said Smith had reached out to her and they sympathised with him.

“I know of Kervin’s story and I really hope he gets all the help he needs,” Coetzee said.

Provincial health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda said: "I am still communicating with the facility involved to establish the facts."