Help a Hero's Family in Their Time of Need

Dear Friends,

I’m reaching out today with a heavy heart, asking for your help for a family that means so much to me. Right now, they are going through what no family should ever have to endure.

She is a brave South African woman who has dedicated her life to protecting others. But now, while on a family holiday in Italy, she’s fighting for her own life in the ICU after being diagnosed with severe acute necrotising haemorrhaging pancreatitis. This devastating illness has led to a cascade of other health complications—her liver and lungs have become dysfunctional, she’s still on a ventilator, unable to breathe on her own as well as a feeding tube.

For over a month now, she has been in the ICU, undergoing two major abdominal surgeries and a tracheotomy. She’s unable to speak, eat, or even breathe without assistance. With tubes draining fluids from her abdomen, lungs, and liver, she’s in critical condition, and her fight is far from over.

Standing by her side every day is her incredible husband, a devoted firefighter for the City of Cape Town. He’s been on unpaid leave for weeks, having used up all his emergency leave days, just to stay in Italy and support her. Together, they have three beautiful children, including their youngest, Tamia, who is just two years old. This family is everything to him, and he’s doing everything in his power to hold them together during this unimaginable time.

But they can’t do it alone. The medical bills are skyrocketing, and the costs of staying in Italy are overwhelming. That’s why I’m humbly asking for your help. We need to raise funds urgently to continue providing her with the best care possible and, when she’s stable enough, to medivac her back to South Africa for continued treatment.

Your donation, no matter how small, will make a world of difference. It will help cover her medical expenses, ensure her family can stay together by her side, and give this amazing woman a fighting chance to recover and return to her family.

Please, if you can, donate to the GoFundMe page we’ve set up. And if you can’t contribute financially, sharing this message with others can also make a huge impact. Together, we can support this family as they face the toughest battle of their lives.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and prayers.

With gratitude, hope and love

The Koopman & the Van Der Elst family