Wakkie Sick Fund

My husband has suffered a stroke on the 28 July 2016 and our family has been impacted on all levels – emotionally, mentally, and financially.

Wakkie’s story - Wakkie Ferreira, devoted husband, and a proud father of Viandi (23), Rhuan (21), Chane (15) and stepfather to JP (26). He is 48 years old. His life and ours has changed irrevocably. Financially it has put a lot of strain on me and I am sure on him as well even though he doesn’t say anything.

Before the stroke Wakkie was a very active man and his job one that requires hard physical labour. Being a hardworking and loyal employee, he worked himself up to a supervisor position and earned a decent income. He is now unable to work and the neurosurgeon said that Wakkie might never be able to go back to the work he did before the stroke (he is a qualified fitter by trade). Only time will tell. The stroke he suffered is commonly known as a Hemispheric Ischemic Stroke, which in plain English basically means a brainstem stroke (this is when an artery in the brain bursts and causes bleeding around the tissues and cells in the brain) and affected his vision, speech, and mobility. He was in hospital for 2 ½ weeks and then he was transferred to a rehab facility for five weeks before being discharged as the medical cover had run out.

Alterations had to be done at home – a ramp for the wheelchair, bars for the bath and toilet, etc. A fulltime caregiver had to be appointed. Wakkie needs more physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy … and nobody can say for sure for how long. Currently he is getting physiotherapy and occupational therapy from a government institution, but this is only twice a week. I don’t have any medical saving funds available to take him to private therapy. There are so many unknowns, but what is known is that Wakkie’s salary has fallen away and I simply do not earn enough to cover all the expenses – and that’s not even counting all the new expenses coming up. Co-payments on medication alone amounts to R1 100-00 per month.

There is a drug called Neuroaid which is very beneficial to stroke victims. Below is just some of the benefits:

1. Neuroaid is clinically proven, effective and safe treatment that enhances the processes of the brain self-repair.

2. Neuroaid is a post stroke recovery medicine that assists in faster and fuller neurological recovery.

3. Neuroaid helps recover independence and reduce neurological deficits.

With the help of an amazing friend Hyla Ashford, that started a go fund me in the UK, we have managed to get Wakkie onto his first month of Neuroaid and soon onto his second month. Thanks to the amazing people who have opened their hearts so far and donated. We really appreciate it.

This treatment cost R9 099-00 per month and would love to keep him on the meds for as long as it takes to get Wakkie back on his feet. Wakkie has already showed amazing progress in the last two weeks. His balance and co-ordination is so much better and the physiotherapist is cannot believe that he is the same person that started there almost a month ago.

I am hoping that this campaign will give Wakkie the opportunity to stay on the medication.

Those of us who know Wakkie personally have no doubt that his determination, positive outlook, sense of humour and love for his family will enable him to beat the odds and come back to us as the independent go-getter we all know. And whilst he is fighting the biggest fight of his life, please could everybody that feels touched by his story help him, no matter how big or small the amount, so that he does not have to carry the financial burden on top of everything else.

We want to thank everyone for all the help and support.