Greenside, Johannesburg, South Africa – The family of Mikaeel Poonan, a 19-year-old young man diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy in hopes of raising R600,000 to cover his life-saving medication for the next year.
Mikaeel was born in 2003 and has undergone nine surgical procedures in his lifetime, including the insertion and removal of ports and feeding tubes, as well as bronchoscopies. He is now due to undergo another procedure on his sinuses.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic chronic illness that mainly affects the lungs and pancreas, causing thick and sticky mucus to collect in the lungs and digestive system, resulting in a high risk of infections and digestion problems.
Mikaeel’s lung function is currently at only 27%, and he is not eligible for a bilateral lung and heart transplant. If his lung function drops below 15%, he will have only two years to find a donor.
To support his ongoing medical expenses and potentially life-saving medication, Mikaeel’s family hopes to raise R600,000 through their BackaBuddy campaign. So far, they have raised over R167 000 with kind contributions.
The treatment they are hoping to access is a drug called TRIXACAR, which is currently only available in Argentina. While the price has dropped to $3339 per box, it still amounts to R58,000 per month, which the family is unable to afford.
TRIXACAR is a highly effective therapy for the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis and has shown dramatic improvements in key measures of the disease, including lung function.
Mikaeel is a keen musician who plays the guitar, paints, draws, and is very creative. He is also interested in cars and has plans to study 3D animation at the School of Audio Engineering in Rosebank. However, his health condition has put limitations on his studies and social interactions with his peers.
Pictured above: Mikaeel with his mum and his core strength… His aunties Rubina, Aliya and Sameera.
“Morgan Grindstaff, a well known sufferer of Cystic Fibrosis once said, ‘Breathing with cystic fibrosis is like having a litter of kittens in your lungs that are clawing away.’ We couldn’t be more thankful for the support Mikaeel is receiving from the donor community. He is loved by all who meet him and has a smile that can light up the universe if given a chance at reaching our target.” – says Leila Poonan, Mikaeel’s mother.
Once Mikaeel’s campaign has reached R300 000, he will be able to receive the first 6 months of medication he desperately needs.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R390 Million.
In the small community of Kirstenhof, South Africa, a heartwarming story is unfolding. Daryn Sutton, a 56-year-old resident, is taking action to help Kerneelz, his friend’s beloved old frosty-faced dog.
Kerneelz, a Boxer in his 14th year, has recently been diagnosed with Paresis (partial paralysis of his hind limbs) and Idiopathic Vestibular Disease, which has made it difficult for him to stand, turn or walk without the ever-present risk of losing mobility and falling.
Daryn is partially deaf-blind, having lost his hearing from a young age and his sight in his early 40s. He, too, incurs some nasty falls on occasion.
“I met Kerneelz’s mom, Greta, 6 years ago at a guide-dogs fundraiser and with her partially deaf rescue Boxer Mix Bertie, Askii’s bestie, we embarked upon endless nature adventures which we still do from time to time. With his recent partial paralysis and vestibular disease diagnoses not only is Kerneelz’s mobility compromised to the point of falling on occasion or struggling to stand; what with his also being stone deaf and partially blind it’s safe to say that Kerneelz has my sympathies. I truly know what all of this feels like and how it can greatly impair one’s getting about one’s daily business!” – says Daryn
Despite his own challenges, Daryn chose to launch a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to help Kerneelz because of the special bond they share. Kerneelz’s owner, Greta (52), is a self-employed individual who cannot afford the high cost of Kerneelz’s physiotherapy and Kerneelz’s current policy has been used up and does not cover physiotherapy or acupuncture.
Greta had previously set up a successful BackaBuddy campaign for Daryn’s retired guide-dog Askii and Daryn was inspired to pay it forward and help Kerneelz.
Pictured above: Greta and Kerneelz
To prolong his life and optimally manage his pain Kerneelz is seeing an animal physiotherapist and has weekly sessions that consist of manual manipulation, soft tissue massages, laser treatments, and core stability strengthening and proprioception land based exercises. He is also seeing a veterinary acupuncturist once a week.
These treatments, while costly, are something Kerneelz will benefit from enormously if able to continue with them for the rest of his life.
Once Kerneelz is deemed less weak and frail he will begin hydrotherapy sessions on a water treadmill operated by an animal physiotherapist.
According to Dr Heidi Kuhn of Alphen Vet, Kerneelz’s veterinarian, there is a chance that physiotherapy could help Kerneelz regain some improved use of his hind legs.
The campaign aims to raise R 100 000 (a legacy ‘pay it forward’ physiotherapy project is in mind with any residual funds once Kerneelz eventually passes on).
Thus far the campaign has raised over R5000, the tip of the iceberg of Kerneelz’s ongoing needs, Greta says, when one factors in the weekly cost of acupuncture (R660/session), land-based physiotherapy (R550/session) and water-based physio hydrotherapy (R440/session).
Kerneelz before Sept. 2022 eye removal
Daryn is reaching out to the public, appealing to animal lovers everywhere to support Kerneelz and provide him with the necessary treatment. With every donation, they are one step closer to giving the sweet, deserving old gentleman, comfortable and pain-free golden years.
“Kerneelz is my companion through my late 30s, 40s and right into my 50s. We have faced many obstacles together and I can’t imagine my life without him. He still has quality of life, loves his early morning nature walk-sniffies, sun dozies and siesta cuddles and am in constant contact with vet and physio team. We even lived on a farm for over a year and have gone on so many road trips and countryside adventures together. He is the apple of my eye and is adored by the vet and physio team, held up as a model patient for being so cooperative, gentle and loving towards all. He absolutely knows we are trying to help him! I am incredibly grateful that platforms such as Backabuddy exist which can help not least animals in need”. – says Greta
Funds raised by this campaign will be administered by BackaBuddy and paid directly to the relevant institutions for Kerneelz’s treatment.
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South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R390 Million.
Elizabeth Jordaan, an 11-year-old girl from Robertson, Cape Town, is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and determination. Despite the odds stacked against her since birth, Elizabeth remains an energetic and positive child who is eager to learn and experience life to the fullest.
When Elizabeth was just 6 months old, she was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress (SMARD), a rare genetic disorder that affects muscle strength and causes respiratory distress. As a result, Elizabeth has been dependent on a home ventilator to help her breathe, which her mother, Sanet Jordaan, watches over like a hawk.
Living on a farm in Robertson, an hour away from the nearest hospital, Sanet is plagued by the fear of what could happen if the home ventilator stops working or gives problems. The fear is compounded by the ongoing load shedding and power outages in South Africa, which can leave Elizabeth vulnerable and in danger.
Pictured above: Elizabeth Jordaan
But despite the challenges, Elizabeth is a bright, talkative, and loving child who is eager to learn and experience life to the fullest. She is an inspiration to everyone who meets her, a reminder that there is always hope, no matter what life throws our way.
To help Elizabeth and her family cope with the ongoing struggles of her condition, as well as loadshedding, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched on BackaBuddy. The campaign aims to raise funds for a backup ventilator, which will provide Elizabeth with the peace of mind and security that she deserves.
The campaign has received an outpouring of support from the public, with contributions from 20 donors totalling R72,302 so far. Despite this, the family is still far from their target of R200 000, and they are appealing to the public for support.
Pictured above: Elizabeth Jordaan
Elizabeth’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and determination. It is a reminder that even in the face of life’s toughest challenges, there is still hope, and that every small act of kindness can make a big difference. By supporting Elizabeth and her family, we can help ensure that she has the tools she needs to live life to the fullest and breathe easily.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R380 Million.
In the early hours of February 6, 2023, Turkey and Syria were rocked by a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 7.5 magnitude tremor. The devastating quakes resulted in thousands of casualties and widespread damage.
As search and rescue efforts are hampered by harsh weather conditions, the Gift of the Givers has taken action to help the affected communities.
The organisation has evacuated children from their Bayt Kareem Child Care Centre in Gaziantep, Turkey, and prepared its medical teams in Darkoush, Syria to treat incoming casualties. The death toll continues to rise, with over 4300 fatalities reported so far.
The Gift of the Givers has been contacted by the Turkish Ambassador to South Africa and the Consul General in Cape Town, as well as the SA Ambassador to Turkey, Dipou Letsatsi-Duba, to provide assistance.
Image: Gift of the Givers (Facebook)
In response, they have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to purchase essential aid, including medical supplies, equipment, food, and more. They are also expanding their volunteer medical and search and rescue teams, ready to assist in any way they can.
To support the affected communities and the Gift of the Givers’ efforts, you can donate to the initiative on BackaBuddy:
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R380 Million.
Ryan “Choppy” Pike, a 29-year-old model from Hout Bay, Cape Town, is on a mission to make a difference in the lives of animals in need.
Through the launch of crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, Ryan hopes to benefit the Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha, an animal advocacy organisation that he has recently connected with.
Pictured above: Ryan with his pup, Mila.
The challenge
On 16 February 2023, Choppy, who is an animal lover at heart, will be pushing his limits to the extreme by running the Tankwa Crossing, a 207 km Ultra Marathon from Calvinia to Ceres, to raise funds for the Mdzananda Animal Clinic.
The race, which takes place during one of the hottest months of the year with temperatures reaching a scorching 50 degrees Celsius, is a gruelling single stage race with a cut off time of 50 hours. Choppy will have to face the harsh conditions, pushing his body to the limit, all for the love and care of animals in need.
“I grew up with many different cats and dogs around in the house and they’ve always been a huge part of my life. I feel like animals are capable of turning a house into a home, they’re furry best friends who are always excited to see you,” says Choppy. “That’s why I can’t stand the thought of animals suffering and not receiving the care they need. That’s why I am doing this, for them. For the animals that can’t speak for themselves, I want to be their voice.” – says Ryan
Pictured above: Ryan with his pup, Mila
The campaign, which has already raised over R45,000 towards his fundraising target of R100,000, will benefit the Mdzananda Animal Clinic, which is currently running over the carrying capacity of their facilities.
Funds raised will contribute towards a new inverter to protect the organisation’s digital x-ray machine from potential damage due to load shedding and power cuts South Africa is currently facing.
Pictured above: Mdzananda Animal Clinic outreach
“I’m sure every South African can relate to the frustrations of having to deal with load shedding, which is bad enough. However, fear of losing a pivotal piece of equipment used to help the animals in your care tends to elevate the stress levels by a couple of notches. Hence the push to raise funds and buy the clinic some insurance in the form of a new inverter,” says Choppy.
Choppy has been blown away by the tremendous amount of support he’s received since the launch of his campaign.
Pictured above: A dog is dipped to combat external parasites such as ticks and fleas while a young boy from the community watches. Mdzananda Animal Clinic outreach
“Thank you so much to all those who have shown support through messages, follows or opening their wallets for the cause. It’s crazy how motivating it is for me to see a community starting to build and people so ready to help where help is needed. Together we can make a real difference in the lives of these animals.” – says Ryan
Choppy’s selfless efforts in running this gruelling race in the scorching heat to raise funds for the animals in need, is truly admirable. He is truly going above and beyond to make a difference, and his passion and dedication is truly inspiring.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R380 Million.
Jasmijn Duvenhage, a little one-year-old girl from Die Wilgers, Pretoria, was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy at only 4 months old, after several tests, including an EEG test that measures electrical activity in the brain.
Jasmijn has a rare genetic condition that causes difficulty to control, severe epilepsy, slow development, and low muscle tone.
After starting therapy for temporal lobe epilepsy, Jasmijn’s condition unfortunately worsened, and she was diagnosed with West syndrome, for which she had received a prolonged course of extremely expensive steroid therapy.
This was not covered by the family’s medical aid in 2021.
“By Jesus’ Mercy and Grace, she came out of West syndrome, a miracle that very few children live to tell about. Unfortunately, Jasmijn developed several forms of horrifying epilepsy ranging from mild episodes to absolutely life-threatening episodes. This happened several times a day.”
Nadia, Jasmijn’s mom, has not been able to trust Jasmijn’s care into the hands of another healthcare provider yet, as Jasmijn has an extremely complex medication and feeding regime, including the ketogenic diet, which can be 100% life-threatening if administered incorrectly.
Nadia thus forms part of Jasmijn’s therapeutic team and had to stop working in order to be available for her daughter’s care. This places additional financial strain on the family.
To date, Jasmijn has feeble muscle tone, she cannot sit up, turn over, or crawl. She also has trouble moving her head, which necessitates 24-hour monitoring as she also has trouble swallowing her secretions, which has led to several choking episodes with aspiration pneumonia and lung collapses, requiring non-invasive ventilation and admission to paediatric ICU.
This is all even despite the family’s best attempts to manage and prevent these episodes with physiotherapy and suctioning at home. With her severe developmental delays, she doesn’t yet smile and does not always react to people around her.
To give Jasmijn the best care, her family has spent their entire savings and exhausted their medical aid to cover the costs of her medication and purchases such as a wheelchair, bathing equipment, anti-epileptic drugs, rehab sessions, hypoallergenic baby formula and now the ketogenic diet, as well as a special needs car seat.
The parents are praying that with the Lord’s continual Mercy and Grace, as well as the right therapy, Jasmijn will still have a chance at a normal life.
Uncontrolled epilepsy remains the problem: every time she has a seizure, it may damage her brain and delay her development further. She is currently on 5 anti-epileptic drugs (amongst others) but her epilepsy is still not under control. The family is doing everything they can to ensure the best possible outcome for Jasmijn.
In need of urgent financial assistance to help Jasmijn with her medical condition, the Duvenhage family have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to appeal to the public for much-needed support.
Since June 2022, Jasmijn has also been in and out of several paediatric ICUs, battling various infections, due to her poor immune system. This brave little girl even had to spend Christmas 2022 and new year 2023 in the paediatric ICU.
The parents and doctors are hoping to get her home soon though. Currently, she is receiving 24-hour continuous feeds and will have to be managed on non-invasive ventilation at home until her muscle tone improves enough for her to breathe well on her own.
To date, approximately R111 000 has been raised from 47 incredible donors, towards their fundraising target of R250 000
“We are doing everything we can do to make sure that Jasmijn gets the correct medical care. All contributions towards our BackaBuddy campaign will be used to ensure that Jasmijn receives the best therapy. “
Please help give Jasmijn a better fighting chance to live a more victorious life with her loved ones.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R380 Million.
