South Africans are rallying together to support talk show host Tom London by launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for his urgent life-saving surgery.
Johannesburg, South Africa (09 September 2024) – South Africans have once again proven that when someone in their community is in need, they will unite in remarkable ways. When called upon, they don’t hesitate to help, and today, this spirit of unity and compassion has been directed toward saving the life of Tom London, a beloved talk show host and activist who has inspired countless people across the nation.
Tom, a familiar name in South African media, has found himself in a life-threatening situation.
Tom was recently admitted to the Helen Joseph Hospital after what started as a simple chest cold escalated into a severe health crisis. Diagnosed with pneumonia and a massive pleural effusion, Tom found himself in a battle for his life, confronting not only his illness but also the challenges and shortcomings of the South African public healthcare system. From his hospital bed, he began to share his experience in real-time, posting heartfelt and unfiltered Facebook Live videos that quickly went viral.
He spoke candidly about the poor treatment he received, the apparent neglect by some of the hospital staff, and the distressing conditions he witnessed, including a patient passing away without immediate assistance.
“Doctors here, you are giving Doctors in South Africa a bad name. I am so angry with you. This is the Helen Joseph Circus Hospital, where Doctors experiment on you,” Tom said in one of his videos.
Tom’s story resonated deeply with many South Africans who have experienced similar situations or have loved ones in similar circumstances. And that’s when something extraordinary happened amid the outcry and anger.
Tom’s story touched the hearts of thousands across the country, and people rallied around him, offering support in ways that have brought him hope and healing. Over R120,000 was raised in donations from kind South Africans who wanted to ensure that Tom could receive the medical care he needed. The funds helped cover his medical bills and allowed him to move to a private hospital to continue his treatment in a safer environment.
He was moved to a private facility yesterday (08 September 2024) and, for the first time in nearly two weeks, had a good restful night’s sleep.
Earlier today, Tom received news that he urgently needed an operation to drain liquid from his lungs, a procedure that could save his life. Unfortunately, the cost of this operation in the private hospital where he is currently being treated is estimated at around *R600,000. Tom grappled with the idea of transferring to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, another public facility, to undergo the surgery. However, faced with the urgency of his condition and the need for immediate care, he decided to try and raise the money himself to remain in the private facility, where the operation could be performed without delay.
But Tom was not left to face this challenge alone.
Alistair Jameson, a compassionate South African who had been following his story, decided to take action by setting up a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy. The goal is to raise the necessary funds for Tom’s surgery and ensure he gets the care he desperately needs.
In his latest message, Tom expressed his profound gratitude for the generosity and kindness shown to him.
“I am so grateful,” he said. “The help of kind strangers is one of the greatest things to happen to me in my life and has given me a new perspective.”
Meanwhile, in response to Tom’s story, the Gauteng Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba published a media statement on X (previously Twitter).
MEDIA STATEMENT || GAUTENG MEC FOR HEALTH APPRAISED WITH THE MEDICAL TREATMENT GIVEN TO MR THOMAS HOLMES AKA TOM LONDON pic.twitter.com/epFHBjMEuK
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) September 8, 2024
As South Africans continue to rally around Tom, it’s clear that this story is about more than just one man’s fight for survival. It is more than just raising awareness for South Africans who face challenges in the public health sector. It’s about a community coming together to stand by a friend in need, proving that we are stronger together.
In times of hardship, we don’t back down – we step up, we support, and we find a way to make a difference.
If you would like to be part of this effort to help Tom, you can make a donation by visiting this link. Every contribution, big or small, will help ensure that Tom can undergo the life-saving surgery he urgently needs.
*The doctors spoke to Tom the next day and informed him that the operation would only cost around R250,000. The Backabuddy amount has been updated.
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