Skip to content
HelpBLESS
Bills & expensesMedical & healthCritical

Surgery fund for Dumisani: spinal decompression surgery in Polokwane

A scheduled spinal decompression surgery in April is out of reach without help covering $1,450 of the cost.

🇿🇦 Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa1,647 views
Zola D. Govender
Email verified
Polokwane
Dumisani was diagnosed with a cleft palate needing repair in January. The surgeon at Polokwane Regional Medical Center recommended spinal decompression surgery, and He is scheduled for April. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $2,900, and after what the government subsidy will pay we're still $1,450 short. my son has been in and out of Polokwane Regional Medical Center since January. The doctors say a cleft palate needing repair will get worse without spinal decompression surgery. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $2,900 is more than we can find. While we wait, Dumisani struggles with daily life and can't stand for more than ten minutes. His family has taken turns caring for him, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. The recovery period is expected to take about 10 weeks. During that time Dumisani won't be able to stand for more than ten minutes, so the costs keep growing. I'll pay the hospital and pharmacy directly and post every receipt in the updates section. Where the $1,450 goes: • Physiotherapy sessions: $105 • Travel and lodging for the family: $40 • Post-operative medication: $45 • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $810 • Hospital stay (5 nights): $450 Ask me anything below before you decide. I'd rather you were sure. - Zola
due date
2026-04-27
bill type
Hospital invoice

Updates from Zola

  1. We're at 64% thanks to 27 of you. the plan for hospital stay is now scheduled. More news soon.

  2. Quick update: $520 raised so far (36%). the first invoice got paid this week. Receipts coming as soon as I have them.

  3. 21% there. I made the first payment toward physiotherapy sessions. Thank you.

  • Manuel E. Muñoz 🇲🇽 · $50
  • William Magnusson 🇸🇪 · $30
  • Njeri Esther Kato 🇰🇪 · $250
  • Anonymous 🇨🇦 · $50

    “Hope it all works out! - Red Deer”

  • Muhammad Ilham Yuliani 🇮🇩 · $20
  • James Stevens 🇺🇸 · $25
  • James Wallace 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Hanneke Ingrid Hoekstra 🇳🇱 · $45
  • Rungnapa Hathai Laohakul 🇹🇭 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇬🇧 · $10
  • Milena Halyna Semenov 🇺🇦 · $25

    “Keep your head up. My father told me about this one. - Kyiv”

  • Yaowalak Ubol Suksawat 🇹🇭 · $25
  • Anonymous 🇿🇦 · $10

    “Hope things get better. Hope the April deadline works out. - Mthatha”

  • Anonymous 🇵🇰 · $25
  • Katherine R. Avila 🇺🇸 · $25

    “Be well. Thought of Dumisani all day after reading this. - Los Angeles”

  • Emily E. Mitchell 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Rafael Manoel Gomes 🇧🇷 · $50

    “Good luck. - Brasília”

  • Ibrahim Musa Jimoh 🇳🇬 · $20

    “Hope it all works out. Only $20 but hope it helps. - Epe”

  • Filippo Basile 🇮🇹 · $35

    “Best of luck. - Venice”

  • Mpho T. Cele 🇿🇦 · $20

Reviews

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

No reviews yet.

Questions & comments

Ask before you give. Email-verified members can comment and ask questions - no donation needed.

Sign in or create a free account to join the conversation.

  • Rooting for you. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Greetings from Nashik

    • Hope things get better soon, Zola. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Thinking of Polokwane

      • any update on how things are going in Polokwane?

        • Sending good thoughts, Zola. Get well soon. Thinking of Polokwane.

          • Daniel Elias SchmittQuestionPhoto verified

            is there anything that isn't money that would help Dumisani?

            • Zola D. GovenderOwnerAnswer

              Thank you. If you're in Polokwane I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. I'll keep the page updated.

          • You're not alone. Wishing Dumisani a smooth procedure and a full recovery

            • Thinking of you and your family, Zola. Your post was clear and honest. We had a similar scare last year, I know what it feels like. All the best.

              • Ethan WeberQuestion

                is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Dumisani.

                • Good luck, Zola. Looking forward to the next update.

                  • Jocelyn C. FernandezPhoto verified

                    It takes guts to ask. Well done. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. Love from Munich.

                    • Sending strength, Zola. I hope things turn around soon. After 8 years in logistics I know how hard it's to ask for anything

                      • sending good thoughts, Zola. Get well soon. My neighbor in Coimbatore donated after I showed her your page

                        • Wishing Dumisani a smooth procedure and a full recovery. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. God bless.

                          • Sending good thoughts. Wishing Dumisani a smooth procedure and a full recovery. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. All the best

                            • Dian Bunga HakimID verified

                              Take care, Zola. Shared this with my family. Wish I lived closer to Narayanganj so I could bring a meal. Greetings from Addis Ababa

                              • Good luck, Zola. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Thinking of Polokwane

                                $1,663 raised of $1,450

                                Give

                                More people who need help