Andre Pienaar
Donation protected
I would like to ask you to take a short journey with me... Imagine that your husband got up one ordinary morning with a splitting headache... Two days later the headache is still there but now he is also finding it difficult to write. Then later that day, when you visit him at his practice, he sounds disorientated and incoherent, but then acts normal again and insists on driving home himself. You race home, where your son is already waiting to have dinner with you. Minutes later both of you watch as your husband drives up the driveway at 5 miles an hour - and straight into your car. He is completely incoherent and totally uncoordinated. Your son helps him into your car and you race to the hospital where they immediately admit him into ICU. Within a matter of days, he is a complete quadriplegic.... Your life collapses around you - your strong healthy husband is paralyzed and dying...
This is what happened to our close friends Annatjie and André Pienaar. We have known them for the past 20 years. André is a biokinetecist with his own practice in Durban, South Africa. He is a humble person with a deep faith, who has through the years impacted the lives of many of his rehabilitation patients.
of rehabilitation.
March 2020 started an incredible battle for survival. Initially, the doctors suspected André had had a stroke because of his impaired speech. This was soon ruled out and a subsequent preliminary diagnosis of viral encephalitis was offered. However, the tests for both viral and bacterial infections came back negative, but his MRI scans showed an infection and abscess in the brain.
In April André was faced with another complication....... While in ICU André contracted the Covid19 virus. He was already so weak that this could be deadly in his condition. It also meant that he was completely isolated from his family and Annatjie was prevented from being at his bedside for more than four weeks. Yet again, through the prayers of many, André survived the Covid19 virus. During his time with COVID, André started to gain back small movement, first in his fingers and then in his toes.
André has continued to fight during the past 16 weeks. For him and his family it has been a roller coaster ride of shock - hope, anxiety - hope, disappointment - hope, despair - hope.... but interwoven between it all was God’s visible hands. Since André’s admittance to ICU, he has lost between 70-90 pounds, and at 6ft 3 he currently weighs 118 lbs.
André is currently showing some encouraging signs of recovery. He has partially regained some movement in his body and is receiving daily physical therapy. In the last two weeks, he has learned to walk with a walking frame. Cognitively, he is also showing signs of improvement. Even though his speech has been severely affected, he follows instructions, understands well, and tries his best to communicate.
André’s road to recovery is going to be difficult, but he is determined and has the loving support of his family and faith in the Lord. The specialists are predicting approximately 18 months.
This is what happened to our close friends Annatjie and André Pienaar. We have known them for the past 20 years. André is a biokinetecist with his own practice in Durban, South Africa. He is a humble person with a deep faith, who has through the years impacted the lives of many of his rehabilitation patients.
of rehabilitation.
March 2020 started an incredible battle for survival. Initially, the doctors suspected André had had a stroke because of his impaired speech. This was soon ruled out and a subsequent preliminary diagnosis of viral encephalitis was offered. However, the tests for both viral and bacterial infections came back negative, but his MRI scans showed an infection and abscess in the brain.
While the neurologists, neuroradiologists, professors and other specialists worked on identifying and treating his illness, André deteriorated rapidly. Every day was marked by a visible weakening to his mobility, speech, and alertness. Within a matter of days, André reached a point where he was totally quadriplegic, developed a deep vein thrombosis, and lost his ability to swallow and talk. At that point, his family was twice told by doctors that he was dying.
In April André was faced with another complication....... While in ICU André contracted the Covid19 virus. He was already so weak that this could be deadly in his condition. It also meant that he was completely isolated from his family and Annatjie was prevented from being at his bedside for more than four weeks. Yet again, through the prayers of many, André survived the Covid19 virus. During his time with COVID, André started to gain back small movement, first in his fingers and then in his toes.
André has continued to fight during the past 16 weeks. For him and his family it has been a roller coaster ride of shock - hope, anxiety - hope, disappointment - hope, despair - hope.... but interwoven between it all was God’s visible hands. Since André’s admittance to ICU, he has lost between 70-90 pounds, and at 6ft 3 he currently weighs 118 lbs.
André is currently showing some encouraging signs of recovery. He has partially regained some movement in his body and is receiving daily physical therapy. In the last two weeks, he has learned to walk with a walking frame. Cognitively, he is also showing signs of improvement. Even though his speech has been severely affected, he follows instructions, understands well, and tries his best to communicate.
André’s road to recovery is going to be difficult, but he is determined and has the loving support of his family and faith in the Lord. The specialists are predicting approximately 18 months.
Now to something that we don't easily do, but as you can imagine, the expenses have piled up....almost 14 weeks in ICU and another 18 months of rehabilitation with no income, are weighing heavily on the family. In addition to these expenses, they will have to make modifications to their home in order for André to be able to continue rehab at home. André is the main breadwinner in the family and since his admission to the ICU, he has had no income. Furthermore, Annatjie’s B & B business has been incapacitated by the COVID lockdown. The family is facing financial ruin in the short term.
In the light of these trying circumstances, we would like to approach you for financial assistance to help André and his family. We would like to raise sufficient funds to help cover some of their considerable expenses. At present the financial demands on André’s family can be broken down as follows:
Accessibility related modifications and purchases $5,485
Existing medical expenses $14,640
Future medical/rehabilitation expenses (Estimates)$55,680
Ongoing existing financial commitments $39,544
Total $115,349
We would really ask you to please prayerfully consider contributing to this cause.
In the light of these trying circumstances, we would like to approach you for financial assistance to help André and his family. We would like to raise sufficient funds to help cover some of their considerable expenses. At present the financial demands on André’s family can be broken down as follows:
Accessibility related modifications and purchases $5,485
Existing medical expenses $14,640
Future medical/rehabilitation expenses (Estimates)$55,680
Ongoing existing financial commitments $39,544
Total $115,349
We would really ask you to please prayerfully consider contributing to this cause.
Co-organizers (3)
Kirsty-Rhe Janse
Organizer
Collierville, TN
Rhe Janse
Beneficiary
Bernard Janse
Co-organizer