Swakopmund
Wilika Frai from Windhoek, who last year underwent life-saving cardio-pulmonary surgery, is embarking on a new journey that will assist others to undergo similar operations.
Frai recently returned from a check-up in the United Kingdom and says the condition is very rare, to the extent that it is not covered by health insurance or even treated locally.
This made her realise that not everyone has the same opportunity to undergo such an operation with the necessary financial backing.
Chronic pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects arteries the lungs and the right side of the heart. In one form of pulmonary hypertension, tiny arteries in the lungs, called pulmonary arterioles, and capillaries become narrowed, blocked or destroyed.
The rare lung disorder causes arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs to narrow, making the flow of blood difficult.
Frai plans to undertake a medical fundraising walk, referred to as Walk-a-Wili in Windhoek today. The walk that is in a way also a repeat of last year’s walk will take place from 07h00 from the Tony Rust racetrack.
“We want all Namibians and companies to come in large numbers, as the walk is for a worthy cause,” she said.
Narrating her ordeal, Frai said she first started having problems in June 2013 when she had trouble breathing. “I couldn’t understand the cause… Within a few days I couldn’t move around my house without being breathless. I started to develop chest and shoulder pains as well,” she said.
Frai soon found herself in the intensive care unit with massive blood clots in her lungs and was hospitalised for three months to have the clots removed from her lungs. She was then dealt a further blow when she was diagnosed in June 2015 with chronic pulmonary hypertension.
“My quality of life had gone. I was at a stage where I almost lost the reason to live. That’s when I after proper research decided to undergo the risky surgery that would change my life. I knew all the risk, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to do it for my family and friends. This, however, would not have been possible without the financial support I received from family, friends and Namibians at large,” she explained.
Frai underwent the cardio-pulmonary operation at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge United Kingdom in November 2015. She completed her first follow-up treatment in July this year.
“With the result of the major procedure that was done the disease was successfully alleviated. However, I know there are some patients suffering from chronic pulmonary hypertension, who are also not able to support themselves financially,” she said.
She explained that her doctor would assist in identifying a patient in need of financial assistance so as to donate funds to this patient.
“I will raise the funds with a big walk, as I did to raise my funds as well. I feel that the honour bestowed upon me should also be transferred to someone who is in need.
“I felt how difficult it is to be in a situation where you can’t assist yourself and you only depend on the assistance of others.
“If others can do it for me, why can I not also do it for others? I want to create awareness of these diseases, since it is not well known by many,” she said.