For 16-month-old Nienke Louw life is hard.<\/p>\n
She was diagnosed with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) shortly after birth and needs a life-saving heart operation.<\/p>
Nienke hails from Brakpan and lives with her parents Jandre van Staden and Erika Louw and siblings Mischa (11) and Quinton (8) Louw.<\/p>\n
The family cannot afford the operation Nienke needs and after hearing about her plight local musicians and community members decided to put together two fund-raisers to help raise the R1-million needed.<\/p>
Tommy Gloss, who is well-known in Germiston, along with Jennica Marais from JM Productions, have planned a special fund-raising event taking place on December 1.<\/p>\n
The event will be held at Laerskool Die President situated in Astronomy Road, Fishers\u2019 Hill, from 10am to 6pm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe decided to get on board to help Nienke as she is a child from the East Rand and feel that if the East Rand comes together she can be helped,\u201d Tommy said.<\/p>\n
The fund-raising day which is a music extravaganza and entitled Have a Heart for Nienke will feature performances from Johan Baard, Justin Coetzee, Lucas van Wyk, Mel Fox, Kyle, Sonet Pienaar, Jaco, Mike Pawson and Renier van Staaten.<\/p>\n
There will be fun for all with a strongman competition, food stalls, a beer garden, a flea market, jumping castles and water slides.<\/p>\n
There will also be prizes up for grabs on the day.<\/p>\n
Tickets cost R50 for adults, R20 for pensioners and children under 12 get in for free.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Donate towards grocery hampers for the elderly<\/a><\/p>\n Getting fit and raising funds for a good cause<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more information on the Germiston fund-raiser or to book your stall (stall holders will not be charged to have a stall, but a donation is appreciated) contact Jennica on 083 275 3060.<\/p>\n A similar fund-raising event will be held at the Alberton Ruby Club on November 24, from 9am to 6pm.<\/p>\n Popular singers will grace the stage in order to help Nienke.<\/p>\n For more information on this event contact Schantelle Pawson on 074 156 7928.<\/p>\n All the artists are offering their talents free of charge.<\/p>\n All the proceeds of the fund-raisers will be managed by Angels Who Care in Need NPC and the funds will go directly towards Nienke\u2019s operation and aftercare.<\/p>\n \u201cNienke spent 57 days in Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital where doctors attempted to repair her heart on two occasions.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were, however, forced to abandon the operations as doctors discovered that her condition was more complicated than initially thought,\u201d said Erika.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was so sad and difficult seeing other children come in and go home while she was still in ICU.\u201d<\/p>\n During her hospitalisation Nienke went into cardiac arrest and suffered seizures and had to be resuscitated.<\/p>\n She was then referred to a specialist at a private hospital.<\/p>\n Once Nienke receives the operation her prognosis for survival is good.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n