Dok Wayne Foundation, Mediclinic help young girl
Thanks to the generosity of the Dok Wayne Foundation, Mediclinic Geneva and local medical practitioners, young Candice Dames (9) can enjoy life to its fullest.
Candice, who had to receive a prosthesis as a toddler, recently underwent a dental procedure at the clinic. She lives in Misgund with her grandmother.
It was a pro bono surgery undertaken at Mediclinic Geneva by paediatric dentist Dr Loudine van Wyk-Wiseman, orthodontist Dr Mark Wiseman and anaesthetist Dr Sandy Gush, who all provided their services for free.
Candice first met Dr Wayne le Grange when she was about two years old. Working for the Department of Health, Le Grange had a passion for treating children who needed prostheses or orthotic aids. Over the course of 15 years, he campaigned for an increase in the orthotic and prosthetic budget for the Garden Route and Central Karoo District. He always made sure that every patient, be they child or adult, received the best aid possible.
After he died of a heart attack in 2020, the Dok Wayne Foundation was founded to ensure that his legacy of caring for those in need lives on. Close to 25 children below 21 are presently being treated by the O&P programme that is run by Dr Gerrie Cappaert of George Hospital and Barkley and Oats Prosthetists.
As Candice had been a patient of Le Grange since she was a toddler, she was an obvious choice for the foundation to continue supporting. The Le Grange family started working with young Candice to ensure she could keep her vibrant spark that Dok Wayne loved so much. Following Dok Wayne's example, the foundation wants to focus on each child holistically, and thus the first initiative of the foundation was donating a beautiful pink bike to her in December 2021.
Francois Ras of Barkley & Oates Inc said that Candice was one of his very first patients. "I had the privilege of helping her and seeing her grow over the years and [she] is the type of patient that made me choose my career."
Nadia le Grange of the foundation described Candice as a young girl, full of life and positive. "We would like to thank everyone involved in ensuring that Candice can enjoy life to its fullest. We are a growing foundation and are so excited to continue with our projects to assist children in need with all the support from our wonderful community."
Mediclinic George and Geneva general manager Kassie Karstens was delighted to have been able to assist. "We are very happy to have been included in this initiative and are honoured to have assisted in changing the life of young Candice," he said.