Please help my aunt to keep her daughter alive

My daughter Miriam Marais

My name is Traude Rijfkogel and I am a 77 year old pensioner finding myself in a desperate situation.

My only daughter, Miriam, is 41 years old and living with me. She is the only family I have in South Africa. My child has been sickly from birth and was diagnosed with Lupus SLE and rheumatoid arthritis 10 years ago by Dr C Visser at Muelmed. Miriam qualified as Dental Assistant but never worked due to being ill. She receives a SASSA grant for her disability. While I was still working my employer paid for my and her medical aid. I have been paying Discovery Classic Comprehensive medical aid plus above threshold medication of R 8000p.m.               (=  € 460 p.m.) ever since to get her adequate treatment when needed. This month I have finally run out of funds....

My daughter picked up severe hospital acquired infections, e.coli, klebsiella, MRSA and staphillococus and has to be nursed in isolation wards. She would not survive in a public hospital.

In order to create funding I had to sell my mother's jewelry, my own, and a few rings Miriam had. I had a piece of forest, bequeathed by my late mother in Austria, which I sold as well as some high value porcelain.

I have nothing more of value to sell.

The Lupus affects Miriam's bones, she had multiple fractures which resulted in abscesses forming on her foot and arm. Dr J Kritzinger is looking after her at Groenkloof Life. Her bladder and kidneys are also attacked by Lupus. Dr FJ Potgieter at the Urology Hospital is treating her for recurrent infections and kidney stones. Further she is treated for epilepsy by Dr M Pillay at Kloof Hospital. So far this year she has been hospitalized six times.

I am at my wit's end and I am asking humbly for assistance to continue paying monthly fees to Discovery medical aid to keep my daughter alive.

Sincerely

Traude Rijfkogel