Gerrie Hugo, a Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal resident, is battling stage 4 melanoma and is in desperate need of his community’s support to receive lifesaving treatment.
Gerrie has already undergone surgeries to remove the melanoma from his back and neck, but the cancer has returned and spread to other parts of his body.
The cost of the required treatment and surgeries has exhausted his medical aid and his finances. Gerrie needs to undergo chemotherapy and receive radiation treatment from an oncologist in Richards Bay. But his medical aid will not be able to cover the costs of any more treatment.
To raise the necessary funds for his treatment, a BackaBuddy campaign has been started by one of his wife’s friends.
Gerrie highlighted that just the Positron emission tomography (PET) scan that he requires costs approximately R40 000. He is thankful for the BackaBuddy campaign but admits that the journey has been far from easy.
“I feel emotional, and the hardest part for me was telling my wife and children that it had spread,” Gerrie said, adding that his work has been extremely supportive during this difficult time. Gerrie is the service manager at Ford.
Despite the challenges, Gerrie is determined to get the necessary medical attention to ensure the melanoma did not set into his organs. He urges the Newcastle community to pray for his family and him and support him if they can.
“I am not asking for much, just their support,” Gerrie said.
Anyone who would like to assist Gerrie can do so through the BackaBuddy campaign by clicking here.
Share your thoughts and messages in the comment section below.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Gerrie God will see you through this your prayers too will be answered lots of love