Tee-off to help raise funds for baby Sebastian

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Author: Yolande Du Preez yolande.dupreez@acm.co.za
• Publication title: Constantiaberg Bulletin

Sebastian Opperman, the son of Tean and Micke Opperman and grandson of the church’s minister, Oppies Opperman, was diagnosed with an aortopulmonary window at birth

The condition is an opening between the aorta, which takes blood from the heart to the body, and the pulmonary artery, which takes blood from the heart to the lungs, according to Micke.

Oppies said Sebastian had open-heart surgery when he was six weeks old at Sunninghill Medical Centre in Johannesburg, where another cardiac defect, a vascular ring, which is an abnormal formation of the aorta that forms a ring that can encircle and may press down on the windpipe or the oesophagus, was detected.

The vascular ring could be corrected and Sebastian stayed in the ICU for a month after his lung collapsed.

Following Sebastian’s procedure, his parents owed R100 000 over and above what the medical aid and gap cover had paid, and their savings were depleted.

With the help of a BackaBuddy fund, donations from family and friends, and motivation from doctors to his medical aid, they managed to settle the outstanding costs.

However, according to Oppies, Sebastian still has a narrowed aorta that will need to be operated on in the future and he will need follow-up consultations with cardiac specialists every six months, paediatric consultations, and more medication.

And the aortopulmonary window may have to be repaired again when he is older.

Oppies said the church would...