George Herald readers save Joseph’s life
Donations received from members of the public to pay for private dialysis treatments for a father from Thembalethu, Joseph Tigere (38), have helped save his life.
The donations were made after George Herald published a plea in this regard in June.
The plea for help was made by Huw Pritchard, a local who has been a huge support to the Tigere family over the years.
Tigere had a kidney transplant at
Groote Schuur Hospital in 2015 after years of waiting.
The kidney failed in November 2022. Tigere resorted to peritoneal dialysis (filtering inside the body) at home, a method which he used before the transplant. This time around, however, he was getting too many infections and the George Hospital renal unit advised that he would have to go on hemodialysis (filtering through a machine).
Unfortunately, Tigere doesn't meet the criteria to qualify for long-term treatment at a state hospital. The hospital assisted him temporarily for about two and a half months. Tigere has no way of affording the private treatment and he would have died if it was not for Pritchard who approached George Herald to publish a plea to readers.
Tigere has been registered with a medical aid and thanks to a donor, the monthly contributions are being paid. However, the medical aid benefit that covers the dialysis treatments only activates a year after a member joins.
Other donors have helped by paying towards the treatment cost in the meantime and since August, Tigere has been receiving twice-weekly treatments at Fresenius Medical Care Kidney and
Dialysis Centre.
Pritchard says there are a further 61 dialysis sessions before the medical aid cover is activated. The cost of these treatments is R57 950.
"Joseph's account with Fresenius stands at R16 550 credit, hence the shortfall at this stage is R41 400," says Pritchard.
He appeals to the public for donations of any amount that will help cover the cost. Pritchard can be contacted on 074 350 9938 for the banking details at Fresenius.
Tigere has no way of affording the private treatment and he would have died if it was not for Pritchard who approached George Herald to publish a plea to readers.