The Persent family gets Angel love after two difficult years
Roman’s Pizza and Good Morning Angels assisted Gershwin Persent and his family with R30,000 towards their medical bills and other needs.
The Persent family from the East Rand were a happy, healthy, normal family of three: dad Gershwin, mom Rochelle, and son Ryu.
Until two years ago. Rochelle fell very ill with kidney failure. She was on dialysis until their prayers were answered and she could have a kidney transplant. Unfortunately, her body rejected the kidney.
She's back on dialysis and her health has deteriorated to the point where she cannot work, drive or do much for herself without assistance.
Ryu finished Grade 3 this year, "and although he is heartbroken to bare witness to what is happening to his mom, he always says 'it's okay, my mom is okay'. He is a wonderful boy who strives to help people and aims to make them smile", writes his teacher, Lushano Goossens.
Ryu’s dad, Gershwin, has been working tirelessly to keep the family going. He works extra night-shifts to cover all the medical and other bills, as they cannot afford a medical aid. After his night-shift, he makes Ryu’s lunch, wakes him up, and takes him to school. He then sleeps a bit, takes Rochelle to dialysis, picks Ryu up from school, and goes to work. This has been the pattern for more than a year.
Lushano writes: "Despite all this hardship, the Persent family remain kind, generous, and hopeful. Although struggling, they still have faith that all will work out. My hope for writing to Good Morning Angels is that the Persent family will not be burdened with medical bills, or extra costs such as school fees. My hope is that they may cherish this special time together as a family with no worries or stress, while they still have the time."
REQUEST FOR: Gershwin, Larochelle, and Ryu Persent
REQUEST FROM: Lushano Goossens
ANGEL: Our fabulous Festive Sponsors, Roman’s Pizza represented by Corné de Kock
SPONSORING: Roman's Pizza will assist Gershwin and his family with R30,000 towards their medical bills and other needs
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Dear Good Morning Angels,
Today I write with a heart of hurt, but also one of hope. I am a Grade 3 teacher in a remedial school. I have a learner, Ryu, whose family has had an extremely tough last 2 years.
The Persent family went from a healthy, average family, until suddenly, Larochelle, Ryu's mom, wasn't anymore. Her kidneys began to fail and was on dialysis until they were able to find a kidney that was a match. She was still driving and still very much involved in her son's life at this time.
It was miraculous that they found a match and they successfully transplanted the organ. However, her body rejected the kidney and she had to go on dialysis again. Due to her illness, she is unable to work, drive, or do much independently anymore. She has had multiple long term hospital visits due to side effects and complications caused by the amount and frequency of dialysis required.
Ryu's dad, Gershwin, has had to do double shifts, many including night shifts where his routine generally looks like this: He gets Ryu's lunch ready, wakes him up to get ready for school, drives him to school, then he comes home and helps care for his wife. He sleeps then takes Larochelle for dialysis, picks his son up, then goes to work. The cycle repeats. This cycle has been ongoing. They cannot afford medical aid, and are currently paying out of pocket. Despite the financial struggle, Ryu is always the first priority. His dad works tirelessly to provide for his family, and even looking exhausted, is always positive.
My student has watched his mother go from an involved, active mother to one who struggles tremendously. Every morning, and multiple times throughout the day, I hear about his home life, and although he is heartbroken to bare witness to what is happening to his mom, he always says "it's okay, my mom is okay." He is a wonderful boy who strives to help people and aims to make them smile.
Despite all this hardship, the Persent family remain kind, generous, and hopeful. Although struggling, they still have faith that all will work out.
My hope for writing to Good Morning Angels is that the Persent family will not be burdened with medical bills, or extra costs such as school fees. My hope is that they may cherish this special time together as a family with no worries or stress, while they still have the time. I wish I was in a position to help this wonderful family, but the Angels are it. You are the help. Please help this family to enjoy and cherish this time together. I know of no one else who deserves it more than this family. Your help will be deeply appreciated through this festive season, we're not sure how many she has left. From all the staff at Roxer Academy, we pray for this miracle.
From the bottom of our hearts,
Lushano
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