shloboe boe
Chronicle Writer
A BULAWAYO family is appealing for donations to raise US$31 000 to take their 25-year-old son, Mr Wenkosi Tshili, to India for urgent medical treatment.
Wenkosi, a renal patient, has been battling kidney problem since 2016 and has endured years of dialysis, which has taken a severe toll on his health.
His father, Mr Bishop Fikekhaya Tshili, said the family has exhausted its resources in efforts to save Wenkosi, who also lost his younger brother to the same condition at the age of seven.
“I am the father of Wenkosi Tshili, who has been suffering from kidney failure since 2016. Both his kidneys failed and he has been on dialysis ever since. In 2017, we travelled to China seeking medical assistance, but unfortunately, the treatment was unsuccessful.
“Over the years, dialysis has become less effective, and it has led to complications, including a stroke on his right side and a cyst in his brain,” said Mr Bishop Tshili.
He explained that Wenkosi’s condition deteriorated further in October last year, and he is now experiencing slow internal bleeding in the brain.
The family believes treatment in India offers the best chance of saving his life.
Mr Bishop Tshili has offered to donate one of his kidneys to his son. However, the cost of the treatment, which includes neurological surgery to address the brain haemorrhage and a kidney transplant, is beyond the family’s financial reach.
“We have received three quotations, and the minimum cost is US$31 000. This will cover two critical procedures and that is the neurological surgery to address the bleeding and clot in his brain and the kidney transplant,” he said.
The father described the emotional and physical toll the family has endured watching Wenkosi suffer.
“It has been a torturous experience to see our son go through this. Dialysis sessions alone are excruciating and it’s heart-breaking for him and us as a family.
“This started when he was just 16 years old. We also lost another son to the same disease when he was only seven,” said Mr Bishop Tshili.
Due to his health challenges, Mr Wenkosi Tshili could not continue his education beyond Form Four.
Despite his intelligence and determination, his condition has prevented him from completing his studies.
“He is a bright young man who passed his O-levels well and enrolled at Bulawayo Polytechnic.
Unfortunately, his health made it impossible for him to sit for his examinations twice. Any strenuous activity triggers severe complications,” said the father.
The family is appealing to well-wishers to help them raise the funds needed for Mr Wenkosi’s Tshili’s treatment.
Mr Bishop Tshili said for local contributions, well-wishers can deposit the money in the Stanbic Nostro Account: 9140004134884, Nelson Mandela Branch, under the name Hloniphani Ndlovu or send via Innbucks or EcoCash on +263772285279.
For contributions from South Africa, Eswatini, and Namibia: FNB/RMB Account: Nomathemba Moyo, Aspire Current Account 62339939433 (Branch Code: 250655).
For global donations, a GoFundMe account has been opened and the link is: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/urgent-appeal-help-save-wenkosi-tshili-life
