Monday, 06 September 2010

A 15-year-old girl is to undergo an emergency operation at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital after her plight was aired on Talk Radio 702 this morning.

Emma Pringle dived into a pool last Thursday and hit her head at the bottom. She was rushed to hospital but doctors advised the family on Friday that it is most likely that Emma will be quadriplegic.

Emma’s cousin Lauren called in to Talk Radio 702 this morning to ask listeners to join the Emma Pringle recovery page on Facebook – to offer messages of support to the family at this tough time. Lauren also reported that although Emma was in urgent need of an operation, she was the 27th patient in line.

Within minutes of hearing Emma’s plight on the John Robbie Show, Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans spokesperson, Ndivhuwo Mabaya called in to announce that his minister, Lindiwe Sisulu had ordered top surgeons to be brought in from the SANDF to operate on the teenager.

LEAD SA has welcomed the swift action taken by Minister Sisulu, especially in the light of the current strike at state hospitals.

“She did the right thing by moving swiftly and coming to the aid of the helpless teenager.

LEAD SA is about making a difference and minister Sisulu has,” said Yusuf Abramjee of Primedia Broadcasting.

The Gauteng Health Department has confirmed that Emma will be operated on by a team of specialists stationed at the hospital. The operation is expected to take place later today or tomorrow.

Mabaya said the SANDF will deploy additional personnel to the hospital to ensure that the operation takes place without any intimidation of staff.

Emma’s father, Lambert Pringle, said he was thankful to Talk Radio 702 and LEAD SA.

“The team of specialists at the hospital is most professional, experienced and I have full confidence in them.”

He added that he was grateful to the SANDF and the Gauteng Health Department for the assistance his daughter was receiving. He also praised Netcare 911 paramedics for their swift action on the day of his daughter’s accident.

Abramjee wished Emma well and said he hoped that the operation would be a success. “We have been inundated with messages of support and well-wishes.”

“LEAD SA is all about standing up and making a difference. Today, we again showed the power of this initiative and we thank all role-players, including the caller to John Robbie’s show, and the various authorities.

A fund has been established to assist Emma in her recovery and donations can be made to:

THE EMMA PRINGLE RECOVERY FUND
ABSA Savings
Acc. Nr. 925 0733 777
Rosebank Branch

LEAD SA is a joint initiative between Primedia Broadcasting and the Independent Group of Newspapers.

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