Jason Hartley has been described by members in his community as a loyal, hard-working man who is always ready to offer a helping hand.
This is despite living with multilevel cervical disc-osteophytes, a disease that develops when a series of bone spurs develop on multiple vertebrae, compressing the intervertebral discs and exerting pressure on the nerve roots or even the spinal cord.
“For a very long time, I was taking my body for granted.
“As an electrician, my job requires me to climb up ladders, climb under houses, and into small spaces. The doctors found that my bone density was bad.
“They had to take bone from my hip to replace the ones in my neck,” Hartley said.
Hartley, who is also a former golfer, has had the support of his fiancé, Dione Barnard, who has been helping Hartley throughout his journey.
In November, Hartley spent 22 days in hospital after an important surgery identified by a doctor at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.
This operation was a success but there was a complication that led to a three-week evaluation in Cape Town.
Unfortunately, Hartley does not have medical aid, and the various costs of the MRI and CT scans, the doctors’ and specialists’ appointments, the blood tests, and the medication.
The flights and the daily expenses of rent, electricity, and food costs are also a struggle for Hartley to keep up with.
“We need help settling the bill that has accumulated over the years because of the medical expenses. We also need help with flights and rent and other expenses, but the concern is the credit card bill,” Barnard said.
Despite Hartley losing feeling in his arms, he has remained positive and refuses to give up.
“I’m not the type of person to give up or feel negative about things. Since day one, I’ve accepted my condition. I am aware that I won’t be able to do the same work I was doing before, and I must look for an alternative. That is the exciting new step for me,” Hartley said.
Hartley and Barnard have been creating furniture and decorative pieces from wood and selling them as a way to raise funds. For more information on Hartley’s condition and how to assist the couple, please visit their personal Facebook accounts.
