A doctor from the Eastern Cape – who was diagnosed with not just a brain tumour but also skin cancer – raised an extraordinary R2m in just three days after a crowdfunding campaign, which drew more than 1 200 donors who wanted to help support his fight against the disease.
Father-of-three Dr Andrew Wilkins (41), who works at Madwaleni District Hospital near Elliotdale, told News24 he was overwhelmed by the support.
Just two months ago, he was working full-time, running 15km races, surfing and caring for his patients while he and his wife raised three young children – five-year-old twins and an 11-month-old son.
When he started having severe headaches, which affected his vision and caused nausea, he sought medical help. Tests revealed a brain tumour that required immediate surgery.
Two weeks after surgery he was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma – a type of skin cancer that had spread across his body. Doctors also found a significant lesion on his lungs.
Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, had already advanced throughout his system.
After the initial shock of the diagnosis wore off, Wilkins said his medical training kicked in.
“I wanted to understand the medicine, the diagnosis and the treatment options. Twenty years ago I wouldn’t have lived another few months. But now there’s better access to surgery, radiation and ground-breaking treatments. Yes, it’s all incredibly expensive but there’s hope.”
He is being treated at a hospital in Durban, meaning regular trips from their home in the Eastern Cape.
To cope with his mounting medical bills, he launched a crowdfunding campaign on 1 August, which has given the family hope and the means to focus on his treatment rather than financial stress.
“We are so incredibly grateful for everyone’s kindness,” he said. “It means the absolute world to us.”
Despite the challenges ahead he remains committed to his treatment plan. “We’ll do everything possible to fight this.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
SA cancer patient turns to crowdfunding to finance treatment
Crowdfunding treatment — when survival is a popularity contest