Young man left helpless after shocking diagnosis
Good Morning Angels, along with the Johannesburg Surgical Hospital and its partners have come together to assist 25-year-old Josh Phyffer.
Josh Phyffer didn't know he needed a hip replacement – or what it would cost! The Angels came together to set 25-year-old Phyffer up for life with a new hip.
Phyffer turned 25 this past weekend. After matriculating, he quickly found a job as a barman and worked his way up to pub manager. Last year, he applied for a job at a large company and was appointed as a restaurant supervisor. For the first time in his life, Phyffer had medical aid.
He had been struggling with groin pain for some time and went to a general practitioner (GP) for what he assumed was "a sore muscle."
He was referred to a specialist and received a diagnosis he never expected: at the age of 25, Phyffer needed a full hip replacement.
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His femoral head is deformed due to Perthes Disease - a condition that often goes undetected during puberty and causes bone-on-bone joint malfunction in early adulthood.
For the first time, Phyffer knew why he was in pain and how to fix it. He was relieved that he had medical aid, as he received no financial support from his family.
Then came the shock: the medical aid refused to pay for the surgery and even threatened to cancel his membership because he hadn't disclosed the condition, a condition he was only diagnosed with after joining the scheme.
Phyffer was quoted R46,800 for the surgery - an amount he couldn't afford. His girlfriend, Izel Cronjé, wrote to Good Morning Angels for assistance.
However, they were unaware that this quote covered only the surgeon's fee. The total cost - covering the prosthesis, theatre, hospital stay, anaesthetist, blood tests, and physiotherapy -would exceed R150,000.
Phyffer would also be unable to work for at least a month post-surgery, meaning no income.
That's when the Angels stepped in to help...
REQUEST FOR: Josh Phyffer
REQUEST FROM: Izel Cronjé
ANGEL 1: Johan Fidler, Manager of Johannesburg Surgical Hospital
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SPONSORING: The Johannesburg Surgical Hospital and its partners have come together to assist Phyffer with his life-changing hip replacement. The entire team will cover all medical costs on Phyffer's behalf, allowing him to heal and live a life free of pain. (Estimated value: R155,000)
Visit: https://jsh.co.za
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Good day Angels,
I hope this email finds you well.
I am writing on behalf of my partner, Josh Phyffer, to request financial assistance for a full hip replacement.
Josh was denied coverage by his medical aid for this procedure because he did not disclose his condition prior to joining. We understand that this is typically required; however, Josh was only diagnosed with Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease after obtaining the policy.
Josh is 24 years old, turning 25 in June. After finishing Matric, he jumped straight into the working world. He has been completely independent and receives no financial support from his family. Starting as a bartender, he worked his way up to pub manager. Last year, he took a chance and secured a role as a restaurant supervisor at a large company—finally gaining access to medical aid.
Josh has been suffering from debilitating hip pain for over two years. His condition has drastically affected his quality of life. He can no longer enjoy simple pleasures like swimming in the pool or dancing. His role requires him to be on his feet all day, and the pain makes this increasingly difficult.
Being new to medical aid, he knew about the 3-month waiting period before consulting a doctor. Once that period ended in January, I urged him to see our GP. After X-rays were taken, we knew something was very wrong.
Josh was diagnosed with Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease, a hip disorder caused by disrupted blood flow to the femoral head. The lack of blood flow causes the bone to die and stop growing. His femoral head has begun disintegrating and losing its shape, resulting in bone-on-bone grinding and immense pain.
A specialist confirmed that a full hip replacement is the only solution to relieve his pain and restore his mobility. This would allow him to return to work and live without constant discomfort. However, when his medical aid was approached for pre-authorization, they declined the request and even considered cancelling his membership—due to "non-disclosure" of a condition he only discovered after joining.
The cost of the surgeon alone is R46,769—excluding pre-op preparation, hospital, prosthesis, physiotherapy, and recovery support. Josh simply cannot afford the full cost of the procedure.
I kindly request that you consider his situation and assist with financial aid to cover the full cost of the surgery. I am confident this operation will allow him to regain his mobility and live a more fulfilling life without pain.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Izel Cronjé
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