“She has had five operations since she was born,” said Klopper Park’s Takkie Nortje.<\/p>\n
Takkie is the grandmother of Jami-Lee Prinsloo (6), who was born three months premature in 2008.<\/p>
“Jami-Lee is my daughter Marie’s child and, among other things, she was born without hip balls,” explained Takkie.<\/p>\n
“This has resulted in her not being able to walk.<\/p>
“Through the operations, the doctors have formed hip balls and implanted them.<\/p>\n
“The last operation was six months ago and she is able to crawl now.<\/p>\n
“She is also now able to stand on her feet, but she needs balance as she falls backwards.”<\/p>\n
Takkie told the GCN that her granddaughter has to undergo more operations.<\/p>\n
“She has an appointment with a surgeon on December 4, as a follow-up to the recent operation she had and to inform her parents what the next plan of action is,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Among other treatments my granddaughter needs the Mind Moves treatment, facilitated by Elsabe Posthumus, in Kempton Park.<\/p>\n
“That is where she is getting her physiotherapy; she is also meant to go for speech therapy, but there are no funds.<\/p>\n
“That is the main problem right now, all the operations and treatments require a lot of money that we don’t have, as not everything is covered by the medical aid.”<\/p>\n
Takkie added that money received from fund-raising events held previously have assisted in paying for the operations and treatments.<\/p>\n
“We have had fund-raising events to help her parents pay for the medical fees and the last event was held in Brakpan, in October, this year,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We wouldn’t have been able to afford all the medical fees without the money we raised as the fund-raisers.”<\/p>\n
Jami-Lee’s grandmother explained that a fund-raiser held three years ago gave birth to the relationship between their family and Oupa “Elvis” Wolmarans.<\/p>\n
“We met Oupa three years ago, during an event for Jami-Lee, and our relationship has grown stronger and stronger since,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I impersonate the late Elvis Aaron Presley at charity shows, at no charge, because I love helping,” said Oupa.<\/p>\n
“I met this family three years ago, when I was invited to impersonate Elvis at the fund-raiser, and we have become like family over the years.<\/p>\n
“I always pray for the little girl; I can’t help financially, as I don’t have funds, but I try help in any other way I can.<\/p>\n
“I believe God has put them in my way for me to help.<\/p>\n
“We are planning to host another big-fund-raiser next year, when I will be impersonating Elvis again, and Clive Bruce and Lance James are among the people expected to be present at the event.<\/p>\n
“We will advertise the full details of the event in due time.<\/p>\n
“We have to help wherever we can.”<\/p>\n
Takkie added that Jami-Lee is turning seven on December 17, but can’t walk or talk and is still in nappies.<\/p>\n
“All the treatment she needs is expensive and her parents are working extremely hard to make the payments.<\/p>\n
“My husband, Kobus, and I also help where we can with our pension money, and we take care of her during the day while her parents are at work.<\/p>\n
“My child wants her daughter to go to pre-school, but they have to find a pre-school that can cater for her needs.<\/p>\n
“At the moment we are training her to walk and Winelde Pretorius, a private teacher, is helping with learning from time-to-time at no fee.<\/p>\n
“We really appreciate it a lot, as she assists when she has time.<\/p>\n
” I make and sell jewellery to help with medical fees.<\/p>\n
“We are appealing to the community to help our beautiful granddaughter in any way possible.<\/p>\n
“We will appreciate any form of donation.<\/p>\n
“We also thank everybody who has organised events to raise funds for Jami-Lee and everyone who has been by our side from day one; we are humbled by your efforts.”<\/p>\n
Takkie provided banking details for people wanting to donate money for Jami-Lee.<\/p>\n
They are: Jami-Lee Prinsloo Absa savings account 930 967 8202.<\/p>\n
For more information contact Takkie on 076 180 2586, or Oupa on 073 795 3433.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You might also be interested in:<\/p>\n
Fun fund-raiser for Cansa<\/a><\/p>\n