MINUTES OF THE NATAL BYPASS CLUB HELD IN THE ENTABENI HOSPITAL CONFERENCE ROOM, DURBAN ON WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2006
- PRESENT:
62 as per attendance register. A special welcome to the Schabort’s and Parry’s from Port Shepstone and Colin and June Holloway from Hilton.
- APOLOGIES:
Mike and Shirley Attridge, Faye Miller, Cissy & Neville Farr, J. Moodley, Jennifer McInnes, Ken & Patricia Howell, Muriel Adams .
- OBITUARIES:
With sadness and regret we have lost an outstanding founder member and treasurer for 20 years – Les Bolt.
Our sympathies with Herman Davidson on the loss of his dear wife Geraldine.
Jack has written letters of condolences from the Club.
Sincere and humble apologies for recording the passing of Basil Fuidge. He is hail and hearty! The obituary should have read W. Merle.
4. TESTIMONIES FROM FIRST-TIMERS:
ATHOL WEBSTER (75):
A heart murmur was detected 15 years ago but no treatment was considered necessary. A year ago Athol suffered from fatigue which Dr. Rob Dyer diagnosed as being caused by a faulty heart valve. An angiogram also revealed 2 blockages which were bypassed in February 2006, with a valve replacement, fine now.
NEIL GUTHRIE (63):
Suffered from dizzy spells which culminated in a heart attack on Easter Sunday. At the Entabeni Dr. Gillmer performed an angiogram which revealed 4 arteries with 90%blockages. These were bypassed and Neil is fit and well again.
BILL VILJOEN:
An irregular heart beat whilst donating blood was detected. An angiogram revealed 4 blockages which were successfully bypassed.
- VISITATION TO HOSPITALS:
Currently these are being conducted at
- St Augustine’s by Doug Tomes and Ken Monckton.
- Entabeni by Chris O’Flaherty and Jack Piek.
- Westville previously by Tony Ries who however can no longer fill this important duty as part of the Club’s commitment.
In response to Jacks appeal, Vernon Wilson a member since 1984 volunteered to fill the breach. The Club is indebted to Vernon who still works but will nevertheless find the time to visit patients twice a week. Vernon was applauded for his dedication. He reminded us of his previous visitations to the Wentworth hospital in the eighties when that was the only hospital with a cardiac unit. (For interest a triple bypass then cost R390!)
Before this item went to press I had the most devastating news from Vernon’s wife Iris. Vernon felt out of sorts; mainly a stomach pain over the long week-end ultimately ending up in hospital on the Monday and passing away a few hours later in I.C.U. His heart and kidneys were in a very bad state. Our condolences have been extended to Iris and family per personal letter and a press notice from the Club. How very, very sad.
- ANNUAL COUNTRY CLUB LUNCH:
Approximately 50 members and partners will enjoy good fare and fellowship on Sunday 17th September. The response from the medical staff has been disappointing again. Despite several invitations, not one attended. A pity as this was to be a “thank you” event.
- RAFFLE:
Once again very generously subscribed to and realized R225.00 the raffle was won by Nathan Klein.
- GUEST SPEAKER:
Cindy Golding is in charge of the Organ Transplant Unit at the Entabeni Hospital and addressed us. The first heart transplant in KZN was performed on the 25 May 1997. Since then, a total of 47 heart transplants 14 lung transplants and 2 heart/lung transplants have been successful. The Entabeni is one of only two hospitals where lung transplants are performed. Organ donation is known as an End of Life decision with the objective of giving someone else the chance to return to society as a healthy person. It is a commitment to the community.
The organs which can be transplanted comprise heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreas.
Tissues comprise corneas, heart valves, skin and bone.
The eye does not lose its shape in a cornea graft and should be harvested within 12 hours after death. Indeed it is essential that organs/tissues are removed as soon as possible after brain death in order to ensure successful transplantation. Brain death has to be certified by two independent doctors.
Cindy then told us of the numerous case studies of which she had been involved and we recalled that Dr. Robert Kleinloog had brought 2 patients Laura and Francoise with heart transplants to our meetings and the miraculous recoveries they had made. Francoise whom we met of whom we had been shown a graphic before and after slide is now Cindy’ assistant!
Interesting that the liver is the only organ which if partially removed and transplanted, will grow back to its normal size.
Cindy told us of a heart transplant patient who had cycled from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
The Organ/Donor Foundation was established in 1988 to create an awareness of organ donation to adults and children. Currently there are approximately 3500 people waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Tragically, fewer than 1500 people this year will receive a transplant due to this critical shortage.
The shortage of donors is due to lack of urgency, misconceptions and lack of education, religious reasons and education of medical staff.
Anyone under 70 can donate. You must be under 60 to be a recipient.
Under question time, Jack asked Cindy what had become of an 18 year lad who he had seen in cardiac high care and who was waiting for a heart transplant. She told us that he had unfortunately died and so have many other patients waiting for new hearts or vital organs.
Considering that each day in South Africa there is an average of 51 murders, 30 road deaths, 20 suicides and many other unnatural deaths. Jack has written to the Organ Donor Foundation after he had recruited nearly all the Rotarians in his club and after he became ware of the weaknesses in the present system. He has suggested a 24 hour emergency number and a data base of all donors with, if possible, their blood group. He is waiting for a reply.
Cindy supported Jack wholeheartedly and hoped that an improved system will reduce the appalling current waiting and fatality list.
Cindy was warmly thanked for her outstanding and thought provoking address.
Jack Piek
(Chairman, Secretary & Treasurer!!
Tel: 031-5633200
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