Thirteen months after diagnosis, the wait continues and a nation’s fingers remain crossed for the lifesaving operation of Abian Ntshabele. Medical expenses however continue to escalate. With each day that passes comes more hospital bills to pay and this is why Good Samaritans like DTC Botswana employees continue to extend a helping hand to little Abian.
“I would like to congratulate and thank my colleagues for making this donation possible through our Employee Community Assistance program,” said DTC Botswana’s Dimpho Seisa. He said the company promotes a culture of volunteerism and the spirit of ‘Show We Care’ amongst employees.
“As good cooperate citizens we commit to walking with Abian towards her recovery. It is in this manner that our employees were compelled to come together and contribute this money which will go towards Abian’s medical expenses,” Seisa said. The employees donated P24, 710 in cash.
The cheque was presented at the offices of the Abian Ntshabele’s Trust Fund Administrators, Moribame Mathews Attorneys. Also present were Keneilwe Mere (Moribame Mathews Attorneys), and Abian’s uncle Machel Ntshabele. Abian’s mother, Tiny Ntshabele, recently released a statement up-dating the public on her condition and plans for her operation. “Abbie’s condition has progressed to a point where she’s no longer able to fly. She has therefore been found not to be medically fit to fly to China. We have identified another hospital in Belgium, Ghent University Hospital, which has dealt with a similar case nine years ago. Abbie has already been assessed in Belgium by the medical team and the five hour drive was taken on Sunday February 8 and we returned on Wednesday February 11, 2015. Suggested treatment is Cytoreductive Surgery with Hipec.
”Tiny said the estimated cost of the operation is P650 000 and does not include extra costs that may arise due to unforeseen complications, hospitalisation and care. “I extend my deepest gratitude to all who tirelessly raised funds, helped raise funds and awareness, fasted and prayed for my daughter,” she said. The situation has since changed and Abian’s operation will take place in Newcastle (UK) because she cannot travel long distances anymore. Professor Derek Manas will be head of specialists caring out the operation. He was educated and trained in Cape Town, South Africa and completed fellowships at ‘Johns Hopkins – USA’ and ‘Paul-Brousse, Paris’. He was the recipient of the ‘CJ Adams/Sandoz Traveling Fellowship’ to the UK in 1993 and joined the NHS at the Freeman Hospital in 1994.
Manas attained a personal chair in Transplantation at Newcastle University in┬á 2007 and has been instrumental in successfully developing three super-regionally funded transplant programmes in the North East of England – namely: Liver, Pancreas and Islet transplantation ÔÇô as well as establishing and managing Liver and Pancreas cancer surgery in Newcastle. The date of Abian’s operation has not yet been confirmed.
Abian was diagnosed with Metastatic Immature Teratoma, a rare form of ovarian cancer in January 2014. The fundraising still continues to help cover any costs that may follow her operation and those willing to help can donate to: Abian Ntshabele FNB acc # 62263884291 main branch Botswana. UK bank account details HSBC Bank, Acc 42013940, sort code 400917- Tiny Lerato Ntshabele. Her uncle, Machel can also be contacted at 73305521 for more information and up-dates.
