Mother’s plea for kidney to save son (21)

An Arandis mother is desperately searching for a kidney donor and up to N$500 000 to help her 21-year-old son undergo a critical transplant after he was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney disease.

Jacky Garoes (42) hopes a successful transplant will give her firstborn son, Voughnan ‘Von’ Garoeb, a second chance at life and allow him to return to the dreams he had been pursuing before his health took an unexpected turn in August.

Until his diagnosis, Von had been a healthy young man with no known underlying medical conditions.

Now, instead of concentrating on furthering his studies and building his future, he spends three days a week undergoing dialysis in Swakopmund.

“He's always been one of my healthiest children. So, having him now at stage 5 is actually also a very difficult and shocking moment for us because we're still dealing with the news,” Garoes told Namibian Sun.

“It's not an easy journey to share, but a mother's heart will do anything to save her son,” she added.

The diagnosis has left the family reeling as they come to terms with Von’s condition while also searching for a suitable donor and the money needed for a transplant.

“We would really like to ask for donations of a kidney. If there's somebody with an AB-positive blood group and a healthy lifestyle who is willing to donate a kidney, we would love that for him, just to give him a chance at life,” Garoes said.

“We are just appealing to any good Samaritans out there who want to save a life, who want to give a young man new hope and a second chance,” she added.

Any potential donor would have to undergo medical screening to determine whether they are suitable and compatible with Von.

A life derailed

Since beginning dialysis two months ago, Von's life has revolved around a demanding treatment schedule that requires him to travel from Arandis to Swakopmund every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Each session involves approximately four hours connected to a dialysis machine, a routine that has become necessary as the family hopes for a transplant that could free him from his dependence on regular treatment.

Garoes says the diagnosis has been particularly difficult because it came at a time when Von was preparing to take the next steps towards his education and career ambitions.

At an age when many young people are discovering their independence and making plans for the future, Von has instead had to adjust to living with a serious chronic illness.

Despite the interruption, Garoes says her son still hopes to further his studies and pursue his ambitions if his health improves.

He also wants to use his experience to encourage greater awareness of kidney disease and organ donation, particularly among people who may not understand the challenges faced by patients requiring dialysis.

“He wants to start a dialysis awareness initiative and spread awareness about the fact that people can actually donate kidneys and other vital organs,” she explained.

The cost of a second chance

Even if the family finds a suitable kidney donor, Garoes says the cost of a transplant remains another major obstacle.

She estimates that the procedure and related medical expenses could cost between N$200 000 and N$500 000, an amount the family cannot easily afford.

“It's going to be a very costly procedure if and when we find the donor. It's a series of tests that need to be done,” she said.

The household is already paying out of pocket for specialist consultations, follow-up appointments and other medical expenses associated with Von's condition.

Garoes is therefore appealing not only to potential kidney donors but also to individuals, businesses and well-wishers who may be able to contribute towards the medical costs.

Behind the appeal is her wish to see Von return to the life he had been planning before August, when his future seemed to revolve around education, career opportunities and the ordinary ambitions of a young man entering adulthood.

Garoes remains hopeful that this wish comes true.