Newcastle’s Arthur Reineke, SA’s oldest kidney transplant patient, has stage 4 cancer

Arthur Reineke, Newcastillian - Online News

Newcastle born 66-year-old Arthur Reineke, who currently holds the title of South Africa’s oldest kidney transplant patient, is now sadly nearing his end.

When Arthur was 28 years old, he was diagnosed with glomerulonephritis and with kidney failure imminent, he needed a transplant in order to save his life. “I had my kidney transplant back in 1983,” he explains.
However, he needed to take anti-rejection medication for the remainder of his life to ensure his body did not reject the kidney. Tracey Reineke, Arthur’s ex-wife, points out this caused cancerous growths on his skin. She adds, “Just over a year ago, Arthur moved to his sister in Durban to be closer to Albert Luthuli Hospital. When he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, his biggest wish was to return to Newcastle, so he could be closer to all his family and friends.”

With no medical aid and reliance on only a state pension, finances proved problematic in coming home and securing the necessary care. Despite facing this challenge, Tracey explains that community members immediately rose to the opportunity to help. “Ruth Fitzpatrick was an integral part of Arthur being able to return to his hometown and securing a place at Dave’s Haven.”

Fetching him from the hospital in Durban two weeks ago, Tracey and her son Ethan drove Arthur home. The two cared for him at their house until taking him to Dave’s Haven, the last place Arthur will call home.

Arthur explains the amount of love and care he has received has been a liberating experience. “The number of prayers, messages and phone calls have been humbling.” Reflecting on his journey with a terminal illness, he points out, “I can’t believe what has happened to me, and what is happening to me. I can’t explain what it feels like, but knowing there are people who want to help me and understand, makes it easier. I have been amazed by the kindness shown by the community and people such as Ruth Fitzpatrick. As for Tracey and Ethan, they are my angels.”

However, as one could imagine, fear and accepting that he is going to die is an overwhelming reality to digest. Tracey explains that she has seen Arthur break down over recent weeks as he comes to terms with his fate. “The hardest part has been acceptance. It is like watching an egg timer, seeing the final sands slipping through and trying to do as much as possible with the final time.” Smiling, Arthur adds that through his journey, life has taught him the importance of helping those in need, “From my transplant in 1983 until now, what people have done for me is amazing. I don’t know how much longer I have, but if could help someone, even if it is just R10, I would do it.”

Extremely thankful for everything the community has done and the effort and kindness exhibited by Dave’s Haven and Ruth Fitzpatrick; the kind-hearted Arthur does require assistance one last time. With no medical aid and only a state pension, Tracey explains that Arthur needs financial aid for his accommodation at the facilities and medication to help him through his final days. The required medicines are mainly morphine, assisting him with the immense pain he now contends with.

Anyone who can contribute, even if it is just R50, can deposit money into the following bank account:
A. Reineke
Capitec Bank
Account Number: 1633635870

Through your generosity, you can help Arthur Reineke live out his final days in comfort and peace.

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

RELATED NEWS

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Facebook
LinkedIn
X
WhatsApp
Email
Print
Reddit
Telegram

At Newcastillian News, we value the voice of our community and encourage open dialogue. However, it is crucial to maintain a respectful and constructive environment. We remind everyone that using fake or anonymous identities does not shield you from being identified and held accountable for your comments.

To foster a positive community atmosphere, we strictly prohibit any form of racism, sexism, homophobia, or any other discriminatory remarks. Similarly, malicious personal attacks and the use of offensive language are not tolerated and will be promptly removed.

It is also important to note that remarks targeting individuals or companies must be factual and free from unfounded accusations. Comments that involve defamation, false information, or reveal confidential details can lead to legal consequences for the commenter. We reserve the right to remove such comments without prior notice to ensure our community standards are upheld.

Please note that while we encourage diverse opinions and lively debates, Newcastillian News does not intervene in comment disputes. Moderating such interactions is unfeasible and often leads to further complications.

It’s important to remember that the commenter could face legal consequences if a comment infringes on someone else’s rights. Let’s all strive to contribute positively and remember that in this small community, respect and decency are paramount.

Read our TERMS, CONDITIONS AND USER RULES for further information.

Sponsored Content