Crossfit Germitson hosted an event in honour of the late Audrey Naomi Mc Cutcheon, at the Physique Gym, on Friday.<\/p>\n
Audrey was the mother of Jaquard-Ann “Jax” Mc Cutcheon, a coach at Crossfit Germiston.<\/p>
In February 2012, 51-year-old Audrey developed a terrible cough, which rapidly progressed into something far more severe.<\/p>\n
“A year later she was referred to a cardiothoracic surgeon, where she was advised that she had a cyst growing on her right lung and that immediate surgery was the only option for her,” said one of the club members, Bianca Boyd.<\/p>
“In August 2013, Jax flew out from London to join her two sisters, Joan Kotze and Chantall Marais, in supporting their mom during this major surgery.”<\/p>\n
“Unfortunately, the surgery did not go according to plan and the surgeons had to fight to keep Audrey alive.”<\/p>\n
“She was discharged a week later, believing she had a second chance at life.”<\/p>\n
Sonia Mc Cutcheon, Jax’s partner, said: “The surgery was not a success and she was sent home with a ruptured oesophagus, which she only found out weeks later, after falling ill again.”<\/p>\n
“Due to this, all the food and liquid she consumed leaked into her already damaged lung, causing major infections and further damaging the lung.”<\/p>\n
“This setback caused air leaks to develop in the lung and it was all downhill from there.”<\/p>\n
“Audrey endured roughly 50 different surgeries in various hospitals over a period of one and a half years, to try to correct what had gone wrong in the first operation.”<\/p>\n
Sonia added that, throughout the surgeries, Audrey stayed strong.<\/p>\n
“She was on the brink of death each time, but managed to stay strong for her family and pulled through,” she said.<\/p>\n
“In the last eight to 10 months Audrey was unable to consume anything by mouth and all her medication and food were given to her via a feeding tube (PEG), which was inserted directly into her stomach.<\/p>\n
“She was unable to look after herself and was cared for by her daughters.<\/p>\n
“As time passed, Audrey got weaker, shedding an immense amount of weight, with no improvement to her health.<\/p>\n
“Sadly, on January 29, Audrey could no longer fight and passed away at the Sunward Park<\/p>\n
Hospital.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n