E1m raised for Nompilo’s lung transplant, but ...
MBABANE – What a piece of great news! Twenty six- year- old Nompilo Dlamini, who is at the end stage of cystic fibrosis, has finally managed to get the E1 million she needs to go to India for a lung transplant that will save her life.
Yesterday evening, she took to her Twitter page to announce the good news.
With emojis of t ears pouring out of here yes, she tweeted that‘ I’ m going to India finally’ and stated that ‘ we’ve raised E1 million’ while making everyone aware that ‘ we are short of the other million’ as the target amount to be raised is E2 million.
“In the meantime, I’ ll leave for India to do some tests and take some immune suppressants, then wait for the other million. I’ m getting my lungs finally. Please keep donating,” she wrote.
Cystic fibrosis, as explained by the United Kingdom’s Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, is an inherited condition that causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. This causes lung infections and problems with digesting food.
It is said the build- up of sticky mucus in the lungs can cause breathing problems and i ncreases t he r i sk of
lung infections. Over time, the lungs may stop working properly.
In Nompilo’s case, her lungs are reportedly shutting down and dying, therefore, she needs to have the transplant.
She has reportedly lived most of her life absent of any medication that would treat the condition; as a result, her body has been struggling to survive.
Her lungs are reportedly now exhibiting traits of a prolonged and painful decline, as represented by a lung function test which showed her lungs can intake only nine per cent of oxygen. Although the lung transplant can be performed in South Africa, Nompilo does not qualify because she is not a citizen of the neighbouring republic but her only hope is for the operation to be carried out in India.
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, also in the UK, a lung transplant does not cure cystic fibrosis.
“Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition so even though the transplanted lungs will not have CF and will never develop it, the rest of the person’s body will continue to have cystic fibrosis. This means that following a successful lung transplant, some CF treatment will still be needed,” the trust states on its webpage.
On May 28, 2021 Rod Spadinger set up a GoFundMe account to raise the money needed to go toward Nompilo’s travel to India and the transplant surgery.
South Africa’s hip hop artist Cassper Nyovest was one of those who were touched by No mpi lo’ s story and pledged to assist her in raising the needed funds; with him also donating E150 000 towards the cause.
In a video he posted, Nyovest urged his followers to contribute towards the cause and raise awareness about cystic fibrosis.
“Her story touched me because she was very positive even though she is going through so much ... I believe together with you we can save her life, it doesn’t matter how much you can