A mother from Kirkwood is appealing to corporates and individuals to assist with funds for a heart operation which will ensure that her teenage son, Yibanathi Stofile, can go back to school this year.
Yibanathi (13) is currently undergoing treatment for Outlet Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) – a hole in his heart.
Yibanathi’s mom, Nomthandazo, fears that if her son does not undergo the surgery his condition might worsen and he will never be able to attend school and have a healthy adult life.
“We will appreciate it if some good Samaritans can make funds available to assist my son. So far he has been doing well, and passed all his grades. He also excels in soccer, but we fear that if he does not receive the surgery all of this might just be a dream for him,” she said.
Yibanathi, an aspiring soccer player who dreams of playing for one of the biggest teams in South Africa, might not be able to realise his dream due to his heart condition.
Currently, there are about 500 children from the Eastern Cape on a heart surgery waiting list at the Dora Nginza Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Yibanathi is one of the children who urgently require heart surgery. Without these surgeries, the children on the list might suffer other side-effects or worse, lose their lives.
It is estimated that one out of every 1 000 babies is born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and that every six hours a newborn is added to the waiting list.
The Pelo Foundation has partnered with Busamed Private Hospital Group and non-profit organisation (NPO), Wings and Wishes, that transports the children and an accompanying guardian to Busamed hospital and back home.
The Pelo Foundation raises funds to ensure children with CHD receive life-saving surgery and continue to receive medical treatment that could give them a chance to live normal lives.
Since its inception in 2021, the Pelo Foundation and its partners have ensured that 13 children receive the much needed heart surgery.
The foundation is appealing to South Africans to open their hearts and purses so that Yibanathi can receive the heart surgery and be able to go back to school.
