Medical bills soar for teacher hurt in Vietnam
TEARS rolled down his face when semi-conscious Brad Purchase was told his mother, Kathryn, was on her way to be at his hospital bedside in Vietnam.
Purchase, 28, from Howick, who has been teaching English in Hanoi since March, crashed into a light pole while on his scooter and is fighting for his life in a hospital in Vietbam.
His family have launched a crowd-funding campaign on website BackABuddy and by yesterday afternoon had raised more than R110000 to cover his escalating medical bills.
Purchase’s sister, Shannon, said he suffered a badly broken jaw and some broken ribs with one of them broken in three places. He also had a lesion on his left lung.
She said he had been surrounded by some of his best friends and his flatmate, Jon-Jon Abelheim, also a South African, who took him to hospital.
Purchase matriculated from Howick High School and studied graphic design at the Durban University of Technology.
“He is very caring and adores his family and friends. We’ve received so many calls and messages since the accident. It is very special to see all these people come out to support Brad. That is how we managed to raise enough money to send my mother to Vietnam to be with him,” Shannon said.
She said Purchase opened his eyes slightly when his mother arrived at the hospital yesterday morning.
Brad’s medical bills have risen to R150000. The family is expecting a total of R280000.
“We have exhausted our financial options and really need help. We hope to raise the funds for Brad’s recovery,” she said.