Wildlife Paintings on a Platter from Brave South African Woman
The selflessness of Johannesburg-based Di Wilkinson knows no bounds. As she prepares for a serious operation on Wednesday – to remove her only remaining kidney – she has been busy painting an exquisite platter series to raise money and awareness for the plight of South Africa’s rhino and elephant which are being poached to extinction. […]
The selflessness of Johannesburg-based Di Wilkinson knows no bounds. As she prepares for a serious operation on Wednesday – to remove her only remaining kidney – she has been busy painting an exquisite platter series to raise money and awareness for the plight of South Africa’s rhino and elephant which are being poached to extinction.
As reported by SAPeople, Di recently reunited over the internet with old schoolfriend Jill Hamilton (who now lives in Canada), in a quest for Jill to be a “living donor” for Di who desperately needed a kidney transplant.
Unfortunately Di was taken ill and will now lose her kidney before being able to confirm if she and Jill are indeed a match (as Di’s immune system has been heightened and tests may have given a false result). However they will still pursue the chance of Jill donating a kidney to Di after the op.
But rather than feeling sorry for herself, Di has channeled her energy into helping South Africa’s wildlife.
Di’s daughter Legh explains: “My mom has had a rough time. She was in hospital for seven weeks and then discharged for a month. In this time she did her beautiful platters for #ThePlatterProject.
“There will be an online auction soon, so watch this space and please share! All funds will go to WildAid to raise money for wildlife conservation.”
Legh says that “as a family we are trying our best to bring about positive change in terms of conservation and organ donation in our beautiful South Africa.” (According to Legh only 80,000 South Africans of over 50 million are registered.)
In a post on her blog – LivingDonationBlog.wordpress.com – Di thanked everyone for their prayers and “innumerable acts of kindness”
“You have NO idea how much it buoys us. On Wednesday 27 July, at 7pm, SA time, I will be having my second kidney removed.
“The result of not having any kidneys, is obviously a complete dependence on dialysis to sustain me and I believe I will not be able to urinate, so goodbye G ‘n Ts for a while, until I get a transplant!
I believe I will not be able to urinate, so goodbye G ‘n Ts for a while
“Drinking liquids of any kind will be extremely limited, I gather. More than this, I am in the dark, but I do know a few people who have benefited greatly from having toxic kidneys removed.
“After this kidney’s removal, we will aggressively search for a matching kidney, while waiting to see if Jill and I are still compatible, antibodies wise (probably end September).
“As in life, you have to help yourself, before expecting any help from other sources, so whatever your particular challenge is, (I think most of us have something that bothers us in some way), a positive mental attitude will go a long way to approaching what you have to deal with in a constructive way… and I think prayer as well, I am constantly amazed how many people pray.
“Thank you for your kindnesses. Until we meet again… au revoir.”