A community is rallying behind a South African waiting for a new heart! This is how you can get involved with Jog for Jamie!
South Africa (13 May 2021) – Jamie Waller is fighting for her life, and she needs a new heart. Last year, on the 20th of September, the day of her 25th birthday, she asked her friends and family to save their wishes and instead gift her by registering as organ donors. Jamie’s story went viral.
Fast forward to March this year, when Jamie was admitted to Christiaan Barnard to have an LVAD (left ventricle assist device) inserted. During this COVID-19 pandemic, not many transplants are being done due to the risks attached, but Leon Oosthuizen, Jamie’s uncle, has taken up the challenge of running a gruelling 132.30km from Nottingham Road to Sani Pass and, in doing so, is hoping to raise funds for Jamie’s charity of choice, the Organ Donor Foundation.
“Leon is an amazing human being, and we know people would love to see him succeed in the run and in raising funds for such a worthwhile cause.”
Jamie’s story
Jamie was a healthy, happy, ‘normal’ 23-year-old who had moved out of home, had a great job and was starting out as an independent woman. Overnight her life changed. She went into hospital one Saturday morning with suspected pneumonia and came out of hospital 3 weeks later, with a diagnosis of Dilated Cardiomyopathy, a Defibrillator-Pacemaker inserted and sustained a stroke after surgery. Life suddenly was anything but ‘normal’.It was decided that Jamie should be considered for a heart transplant, and has been with the team ever since.
Jamie has met several transplant recipients who are the most amazing people – each one so grateful for the gift of life that has been given to them.
Jamie continued with medication and monitoring, and on her birthday last year, she wrote about “her story”, asking people to consider registering with the Organ Donor Foundation. In South Africa, we have the “opt-in” system, where organ donation does not happen unless express consent is given. The Organ Donor Foundation reported that they had seen a big “spike” in registrations across the country and particularly in KZN (Jamie’s birthplace and where she grew up).
Jamie’s condition deteriorated over the following months, and in March this year, she was admitted to Christiaan Barnard to have an LVAD (left ventricle assist device) inserted. The LVAD device is a pump that is inserted into the heart to keep the blood moving through the body. The idea being that Jamie will become stronger and healthier, and in +2 years, she can have a heart transplant, should the “ideal” heart become available.
Jamie is at home recovering, and her new mantra is “Each day I am getting stronger”.
Jog for Jamie
Jamie’s uncle Leon Oosthuizen will be taking on this challenge and providing the ‘legwork’ in support of Jamie to further encourage people to either register as a potential organ donor or to donate to the Organ Donor Foundation of SA.
Leon plans to set off on Friday 28th May.
The run is particularly gruelling because of the 20km of climbing up Sani Pass after having run 110km already. The 20km from the border to the top is estimated to take approximately 5hrs.
Depart Nottingham Road “Leister Floors at The Junctions” between 3 pm and 4 pm, Friday 28th May. Arrive at RSA Border to Lesotho between 9 am, and 10 am on Saturday 29th May.
Finish at the “Highest Pub In Africa” between 2 pm and 3 pm Saturday 29th May.
To pass through the border post at Sani Pass with time enough to get to the top and back down again, Leon will need to run through the night. Currently, the curfew is 11 pm to 4 am, meaning that he will need to apply for a special permit to break the curfew. If this is not possible, then he will have to cut the run short and omit the border crossing, running straight from Nottingham Road to Underberg (100km).
How Can You Help Jamie
Register today as a potential organ and tissue donor. Visit www.odf.org.za for the quick and easy signup or call 0800 22 66 11 (toll-free) to register.
Visit this page, https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/ODF-Fundraising to donate.
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