TESTIMONIALS
The Prayer Bear Family
On Friday, the 4th of September 2020, Ruvan Jansen van Rensburg had a near-drowning incident after falling into a nearby dam.
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Ruvan immediately needed urgent medical care. HEMS’s paramedics provided advanced life support treatment while transporting him to a private hospital in Brits.
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Children who experience drowning incidents require special medical treatment that not all hospitals can provide. Ruvan was airlifted to an appropriate hospital in Johannesburg where he received the necessary medical treatment. Unfortunately, Ruvan’s parents did not have any medical coverage or the necessary funds to pay for the treatment. Funds were raised by Prayer Bear to sponsor the treatment, as well as the costs for the flight to the hospital in Johannesburg. The collaborative efforts of Prayer Bear and the HEMS team enabled Ruvan to fully recover.
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Today, he is a healthy little boy enjoying life.
Three-year-old Octavia Bezuidenhout was burned with boiling water on the 10th of July 2021. Her parents rushed her to a hospital in Brits.
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Octavia sustained extensive burn injuries and urgently needed the correct medical treatment.
Her parents did not have any medical aid or the necessary funds for the specialized treatment she needed. HEMS transported her to an appropriate hospital to treat her severe burn injuries.
Burns represent a significant number of pediatric injuries, particularly in low and middle-income countries, where more than 90% of burn-related pediatric deaths occur.
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Pediatric burn injuries are a significant contributor to the burden of child diseases in developing country hospitals.
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Octavia still has a long and difficult road ahead, which includes intensive treatment and surgery. Therefore, Prayer Bear will continuously be raising funds to support her financially through her recovery process.
On Saturday, 11 December 2022, seven-year-old Rethabile had a near-drowning incident after falling into a pool at a water park.
Little Rethabile visited a water park with family and friends. Like any excited child, she just wanted to go on the slides. She slipped away from the adults and went down one of the slides.
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The pool was too deep for her to stand in, and she also did not have the necessary swimming skills. Rethabile was found at the bottom of the pool.
She immediately needed urgent medical care. HEMS’s paramedic gave her Advanced Life Support treatment on the scene.
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Rethabile was airlifted by an Emergency Medical Helicopter and taken to an appropriate hospital in Johannesburg that had the medical facilities she needed.
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Rethabile’s mother did not have any medical aid or the necessary funds for the medical treatment she needed. Prayer Bear helped by sponsoring the costs for the flight to the hospital in Johannesburg and the treatment she received. Rethabile spent four weeks in ICU.
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Today, Rethabile is a healthy little girl who has made a full recovery.