16 Year Old needs urgent Back Surgery

At the end of 2024, my son’s life changed completely. He was an incredible rugby player with such a passion for the sport he loved most, until he was seriously injured during a game.

After months of physiotherapy with little improvement, we visited an orthopedic surgeon in March 2025 and an MRI revealed devastating news — the discs from his L3 to L5 had deteriorated badly. The doctor advised him to immediately stop playing rugby, rest for a year, and return for a follow-up in 2026.

We recently went for that follow-up in May, and after another MRI, we received even more heartbreaking news. His condition has worsened significantly, and he is now in constant pain. The next urgent step is surgery, and he has been booked for an operation on Monday, 25 May 2026.

Unfortunately, our Medical Aid has declined authorization for the surgery because spinal injuries are not covered — something I was completely unaware of.

As a single mother of two teenagers, I am doing everything I can, but the financial burden of private medical costs is overwhelming. I am humbly asking...