A South African woman has been given a date for a lifesaving operation following a fundraising campaign in Angus.
Montrose mum Bekki Smith-Dutton sent out a rallying call to the Angus public after her “soul sister” Riekie Cloete was diagnosed a year ago with an aggressive form of leukaemia which leaves her with just a one in 100,000 chance of survival.
A bone marrow match was found in Germany for South Africa-based nurse Riekie earlier this year but her medical aid does not cover foreign donor matches and the cost of the procedure is £15,000.
Around £3,000 had been raised before Bekki shared her story with The Courier and the publicity sparked a surge of donations which managed to hit the five-figure target back in July.
Riekie has been waiting anxiously since then for a date for the procedure and has now been told the bone marrow transplant will get under way this week.
She will travel to Pretoria East Hospital on Wednesday for “intense chemotherapy from France” in isolation, prior to the transplant.
Bekki and Riekie have been friends for 15 years since they travelled the world together working in cruise ship spas.
“It’s amazing news,” said Bekki, who runs Cloud 9 hair and beauty salon in Arbroath.
“It’s been a tough time for Riekie as she’s been in and out of hospital for platelets and has suffered infections in her body.
“She spent the weekend away with her family before she starts the process.
“It’s amazing that her time has come for the transplant which is just in time.
“We are still raising funds as the aftercare is still needed but there is also a fundraiser going on in Cape Town so fingers crossed they get a good amount of money.”
Riekie, 39, mum to Carla, eight, and HenRoux, five, has been under the care of a leading haematologist in Pretoria.
It will take three or more weeks until the bone marrow starts working.
After the marrow has successfully implanted she will need bi-weekly visits for blood-counts and human growth factor injections.
This can take anything from 12-14 weeks.
Riekie posted a message to her followers ahead of her hospital date.
It read: “This was not the best year for me and to those who opened their hearts to me, thank you.”
A crowdfunding page for Riekie can be accessed at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/saveriekie.
