Maandagoggend se maanverduistering het die blou Maandag met ‘n rooi gloed laat afskop. Neels Kleynhans het hierdie beeld van die verduistering vasgevang. Foto: Neels Kleynhans | NK Photography | www.nkphotography.co.za

In 2012, Anja Kruger’s world came crushing down when she was diagnosed with Hereditary Haemolytic Anaemia – a life-threatening blood disorder – at only 14 years old.
The diagnosis came as a complete shock. She describes herself as an energetic teenager, who loved spending time with her friends, but a persistent pain in her spleen prompted a doctor’s visit and further tests confirmed her diagnosis, for which she needed a stem cell transplant.
While waiting to find a matching donor, Kruger decided to take a natural approach by following a mostly plant-based diet in order to give her body the best chance of recovery after the transplant.
Her prayers were answered four years later in her matric-year when a suitable stem cell donor was found, but her joy was short-lived as the donor withdrew from the process.
“The setback was devastating. It meant that the search process would have to start from scratch, and I’d have to resume heavy medication and weekly blood transfusions until a new donor was found,” says Kruger
Fortunately, another donor was found soon after, but she had to steel herself.
“I couldn’t believe how quickly the SA Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) found another match. Admittedly, I was sceptical and didn’t want to get my hopes up as I thought this donor might also withdraw but thankfully, she didn’t.
Kruger’s donor, Ronel Robinson from Pretoria had signed up to the SABMR 11 years prior following a donor drive in aid of a friends’ child who was diagnosed with Leukaemia. The DNA match between the two were so close that Kruger’s doctor couldn’t believe that the two were not related.
Robinson says when she received the call, she was in tears.
“To have been able to give the gift of life to someone is a feeling I simply cannot explain. When I received the call from the SABMR, I was thrilled. I kept thinking how wonderful an opportunity I’d been given to help save someone’s life and all it was going to take was a few hours of my time. I received first class treatment from the SABMR, as well as the team from the transplant centre. Everyone took such good care of me.”
Apart from a few minor side effects in the week leading up to the donation, Robinson says her experience was relatively painless.
Once medically cleared for a stem cell donation, the donor typically receives a five-day course of daily granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) or Neupogen injections to increase the number of stem cells in their blood stream.
Robinson said she had a few headaches, but nothing compared to what a patient with a life-threatening blood disorder would have to go through.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I was comforted by the fact that I would be helping someone in need, and everyone made my hospital stay so comfortable.
Kruger’s transplant took place in December that same year. She remembers her sister shaving her hair on Christmas Day as she started losing her locks following the two weeks of chemo before her transplant. “It was a sad and happy day,” she recalls.
“Having to isolate during the holidays after the transplant was hard as I couldn’t be close to my family, but they gathered outside the hospital window on Christmas Day to check on me and cheer me up. The visit, albeit through a glass pane, kept me going. By New Year’s Day, I was discharged, and I made a full recovery in the months that followed,” says Kruger.
It has been six years since Kruger received her transplant. Due to donor-patient confidentiality, meeting up with donors or patients can only be facilitated by the SABMR three years after the transplant. As luck would have it, they met each other for the first time in Malmesbury – Kruger’s hometown, last month.
Both were nervous, yet excited at the prospect of finally meeting each other.
Kruger says she feels like she’s known Robinson her whole life.
“We ended up chatting for six or more hours. The strange thing I realised when talking to her is that I now also love spicy food just like she does, which I previously didn’t. I am not sure if this has anything to do with her DNA in my body or not, but it’s a funny coincidence.
“It’s difficult for me to express in words how much her selfless act has meant to me.
“While she thinks it’s no big deal, she gave me my life back. That’s a really big deal in my books. Her name means ‘God’s joy’, and she epitomises it in every sense.”
Robinson says it was an honour to be able to give Kruger a second chance and she’d do it all over again if she had to.
“Any mother would do it to spare the life of another’s child. I kept thinking that this could have been my child.
“I can’t imagine what a parent has to go through when their child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and you’re basically helpless and reliant on a match from a stranger to save your child’s life.
“To see her so healthy and thriving is the biggest gift for me – one that I’ll treasure forever.”

Weskus Netbal Federasie se Twizza kompetisie het Saterdag 7 Mei 2022 afgeskop in Moorreesburg by die Gene Louw Netbalbane die Federasie se hoofkwartier.
Die Twizza kompetisie is n projek van Netbal Suid-Afrika wat ten doel het om ontwikkelende Netbalspanne die geleentheid bied om hulle staal op die Netbalbaan ten toon te stel.
Klubs mag egter nie Nasionale en TNL spelers betrek by die kompetisie nie.
Prysgelde is egter beskikbaar vir wenspanne, onder andere
1ste plek – R2500.00
2de plek – R 1500.00
3de plek – R 1000.00.
Die kompetisie word op n rondomtalie uitklop formaat gespeel.

DIE UITSLAE WAS AS VOLG
A-AFDELING
Citrusdal A (7) vs Langebaan A (16)
Moorreesburg A (14) vs Langebaan A ((16)
Moorreesburg A (18) vs Citrusdal A (7)
Malmesbury A (14) vs Moorreesburg A (8)
Citrusdal A (11) vs Malmesbury A (10)
Langebaan A (10) vs Malmesbury A (9)

B-AFDELING
Velddrif A (15) vs Vredenburg A (12)
Velddrif A (22) vs Citrusdal B (3)
Vredenburg A (22) vs Citrusdal B (14)

Die volgende rondte en finale word op Saterdag 2 Julie 2022 op Moorreesburg gespeel waar die wenners aan die Weskaap Twizza kompetisie gaan deelneem.

Skryf is een van Cenilian Gordon Pidt van Darling se groot liefdes.
Haar roman, ‘My Donkerste Geheim’, was in 2020 gepubliseer en dié wat haar skrywes volg kan uitsien na die tweede uitgawe wat teen Desember op die rakke sal wees.
Dit is egter ‘n ander skryfprojek, wat sy ook in 2020 voltooi het, maar nie laat publiseer het nie wat haar tans groot blydskap verskaf.
Cenilian se kinderboek, ‘Lolla’, laat haar van oor tot oor glimlag. Sy noem dat hierdie boek vir haar baie spesiaal is aangesien sy soveel van haar eie tyd in die beplanning en uitleg daarvan belê het.
Die inspirasie vir ‘Lolla’ was die hunkering van jong kinders na die liefde van albei ouers.
As ‘n jong mamma is sy bewus van hoe belangrik die teenwoordigheid van albei ouers in kinders se lewe is en hoe dit kinders negatief kan affekteer.
Dikwels is dit weens omstandighede, maar kinders verstaan dit nie altyd nie. Sy noem ook dat ouers somtyds dink dat geskenke kan opmaak vir hul afwesigheid, maar dit is selde die geval.
Die lessies wat dus in ‘Lolla’ deurskemer is dat ons as ouers moet probeer om aktief in ons kinders se lewens betrokke te wees en om hulle ook emosioneel voor te berei teen teleurstelling.
Daar is reeds bestellings vir ‘Lolla’ en die boek behoort teen einde Mei beskikbaar te wees teen R60 per kopie.
Ramona Soga, ook van Darling, het die illustrasies gedoen.
Enige navrae of om ‘n bestelling te plaas kan lesers Cenilian kontak by: 076 139 8718.

“Hierdie week het die 2022-matriekleerders begin met hul Mei/Junie eksamens. Dit is die begin van ’n reeks eksamens wat die matriekleerders gaan skryf wat ’n bydrae gaan maak tot die res van hul lewens.
Ek het onlangs verskeie jongmense ontmoet en toegespreek en een van die vrae wat ek die meeste gevra word is oor werksgeleenthede en my advies is: “Maak jou skoolloopbaan klaar”.
Dit is kommerwekkend hoe baie jongmense nie hul skoolloopbaan voltooi nie. In die wêreld van vandag, moet jy ten minste ’n matriek sertifikaat hê. Dit is ’n voorvereiste vir amper alle werksgeleenthede. Ek het eerstehands die teleurstelling gesien van talentvolle, hardwerkende jongmense wat bereid is om hul pad oop te werk, maar weggewys word van geleenthede omdat hulle nie hul skoolloopbaan voltooi het nie. Tersiêre onderrig is nie vir almal nie, maar skool is nie meer opsioneel nie.
Ek wil ons ouers aanmoedig om by ons jongmense te staan en hulle aan te moedig en te ondersteun tydens hul skoolloopbaan. Moenie toelaat dat hulle tou opgooi nie. Selfs al is hulle nie met die eerste probeerslag suksesvol nie, probeer weer! Die Amerikaanse skrywer, Len Schlesinger, het gesê: “Failure doesnt mean the game is over, it means trying again with experience”.
My beste wense aan al die leerders wat nou hul eksamens aflê. Sterkte ook aan elke ouer, ek weet dat hierdie proses vir u net so stresvol is.”

Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is important as an elevated blood pressure can significantly increase your risks of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases.
An estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide have hypertension or high blood pressure, according to the World Health Organization.
As we mark World Hypertension Day on 17 May 2022 this year, Western Cape Government Health and Wellness Nurse Verna Jacobs has encouraged residents to learn more about high blood pressure to protect themselves and their loves ones. Sr Jacobs, who works at the Elsies River Community Health Centre, leads a hypertension support group to empower residents living with hypertension.
In line with this year’s theme, “measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer,” below are four commons myths about the condition and how you can prevent and manage high blood pressure.

MYTH: High blood pressure is not serious and only affects older people
FACT: “Hypertension is a serious condition and should not be ignored,” says Sr Jacobs.

“High blood pressure can affect anyone, including children. It increases the risk of heart and brain disease and can have serious health implications if left untreated or uncontrolled.”
Among other complications, uncontrolled hypertension can cause serious damage to the heart. This can lead to chest pain, heart attack or heart failure.
Have your blood pressure and glucose levels checked at least once a year and more often if you have a family history of chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes.

MYTH: High blood pressure can’t be prevented
FACT: Some lifestyle habits can increase your blood pressure. In the same way, other habits can reduce your blood pressure. Risk factors include unhealthy diets (excessive salt consumption, a diet high in saturated fat and trans fats, low intake of fruits and vegetables), physical inactivity, consumption of tobacco and alcohol.
Sr Jacobs explains: “Hypertension can be prevented and managed through a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes healthy eating and exercise. Avoiding eating certain foods to improve your health. This include reducing your salt intake. Salt intake of less than 5 grams per day (just under a teaspoon) for adults helps to reduce blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and coronary heart attack. A balanced diet includes all food groups in your diet, these food groups include starch, protein, fat, fruit, and vegetables. Cut down on sugary treats and processed foods.”
In addition, being overweight or having obesity may increase you risk for high blood pressure, but help is available. Talk to a healthcare worker about your diet and reaching a healthy weight.
Genetic factors can also play a role in high blood pressure, heart disease, and other related conditions. People with family members diagnosed with high blood pressure are at risk of developing the disease and should therefore be mindful and should go for regular check-ups.
MYTH: You won’t need to complete treatment if you feel better after a few weeks
FACT: If you receive medication, it is important to take it to complete treatment as recommended by a healthcare worker. Do your best to implement healthy lifestyle habits recommended by your nurse or doctor, such as exercising regularly. “As soon a patient is diagnosed, treatment will start. A healthy lifestyle and taking your medication will help to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. Therefore, it greatly reduces your risk of heart and kidney disease,” says Sr Jacobs.
Changing your lifestyle can help control and manage high blood pressure. Ask a healthcare worker about the best blood pressure treatment for you.

MYTH: You will know if you have high blood pressure
FACT: Hypertension is called the “silent killer” for a reason. “Many people with hypertension are unaware that they have the condition and may not display symptoms,” says Sr Jacobs.
Some patients may display symptoms which can include early morning headaches, nosebleeds, irregular heart rhythms, vision changes, and buzzing in the ears. Severe hypertension can cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, anxiety, chest pain, and muscle tremors.
It is important that you have a healthcare worker measure your blood pressure to detect hypertension. The process is easy, painless and free at our clinics.

ACCESSING HEALTHCARE

Access to healthcare is a basic human right, whether for hypertension, diabetes or any other condition. If you need support, you can make an appointment at your local clinic or visit your clinic. Healthcare workers at Western Cape Health and Wellness centres are ready to support you. Speak to your healthcare worker about chronic condition support clubs at your local clinic if you have high blood pressure. If hypertension is detected early, it is possible to minimise the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure. Individuals who already have hypertension can manage their condition by:
• Adopting the healthy behaviour listed above.
• Getting regular health and blood pressure checks.
• Regularly taking any prescribed medications for lowering blood pressure.
• Following any other medical advice from a trained healthcare worker.

Never Despair het Saterdag gewys hoekom hy as een van die groot gunsteling beskou word vir die gesogde Swartland groot Uitdaag beker toe hy die verdedigende Kampioen Darling RVK op Malmesbury geklop het.
Never Despair, wie steeds onoorwonne is hierdie seisoen na 4 wedstryde, het weereens groot karakter getoon en seker gemaak die doellyn is iets wat Darling slegs kan oor droom op die dag. Hul verdediging was op standaard en die Tier se tande was vlymskerp op die aanval. Teen rustyd was die telling nog 9 -6 in die guns van die tuisspan. Never Despair het egter hul kanse beter benut en twee geelkaarte het ook Darling se poging erg in die wiele gery.
Never Despair het uiteindelik welverdiend uit die wedstryd as oorwinnaars getree en sal met baie selfvertroue hierdie naweek reis na Abbotsdale RVK, wie tans die top posisie beklee in die Swartland Groot Uitdaag Beker. Abbotsdale RVK het Saterdag hul vierde oorwinning behaal teen Good Hopes RVK. Abbotsdale RVK het baie goed begin en Good Hopes RVK onder geweldige druk geplaas, wat gelei het na twee goeie drieë deur die voormalige Good Hopes speler Bertram Guysenberg. Na die twee driëe het Abbotsdale egter op hul louere gaan rus en Good Hopes RVK het stelselmatig met goeie gebiedsvoordeel en ‘n paar strafskoppe die telling in hul guns geswaai. Die tuisspan kon egter nie die laaste spyker in Abbotsdale se kis plaas nie.
In die tweede helfte het Abbotsdale RVK egter weer bietjie ritme gekry maar moes hard veg om n naelskraap oorwinning te behaal teenoor Good Hopes. Die wedstryd tussen Never Despair RVK en Abbotsdale RVK beloof dus om vir groot opwinding te sorg die komende Saterdag. Wedstryde tussen hierdie spanne is gewoonlik baie naeslkraap met titaniese stryde wat in die verlede enige kant kon swaai. Never Despair se tier sal egter nog ‘n groot naam op sy kerfstok wil inpalm hierdie naweek met ‘n oorwinning oor die tuisspan met minder as 7 punte.
Wesbank RVK het Saterdag weer op die wenpad gekom met ‘n goeie bonuspunt oorwinning teenoor Villagers Wittewater RVK op Piketberg. Die tuisspan het in die eerste 20 minute groot karakter getoon en het Wesbank RVK goed in toom gehou.
Villagers Wittewater was ook goed op die verdediging en Wesbank RVK se vuurwarm agterlyn moes hard werk om punte aan te teken. Villagers Wittewater was baie goed op die dag met hul vurwarm kaptein Jaque Adams aan die spits. Ian De Mornay was ook baie goed met sy stelskoppe. Villagers Wittewater RVK kon egter slegs een keer agter die pale van Wesbank RVK gaan rus in die vorm van ‘n drie deur Chaslyn Goshai. Die laaste 20 minute was Villagers Wittewater RVK se wind egter uit hul seile, met Wesbank RVK wat die beter rugby gespeel het. Goeie balverspreiding het gelei na drieë deur Wesbank se senterpaar asook Reduwaan April, wie tans die voorste driedrukker is met 7 drieë in 4 wedstryde. Ander groot uitblinkers vir Wesbank RVK op die dag was die skakelpaar Bevan Abrahams en Dashton Wellman. Wesbank RVK speel Saterdag gasheer vir Moorreesburg RVK wie oorgehaal is om sy goeie vertonings voort te sit. Moorreesburg RVK het Saterdag hul derde bonuspunt oorwinning behaal deur Saron RVK op Moorreesburg te klop. Saron RVK het vroeg aangeval en Moorreesburg moes baie staal toon op verdediging. Na 15 minute se rugby en steeds 0-0 het die skeidsregter egter eers opgedaag en die instaan skeidsregter vervang.
Moorreesburg het eerste bloed geruik en goeie spel deur Euwen Persen en Edwayne van Wyk het gelei na die eerste drie deur William Adonis.
Moorreesburg het met goeie agterlyn spel nog ‘n drie gedruk deur Brendon Erasmus. Saron het egter terug geslaan met ‘n drie van sy eie. Dissipline was egter ‘n probleem aan beide kante en die skeidsregter moes kalmte bring met n paar geelkaarte. Teen rustyd was die telling 12 – 7 in die guns van die tuisspan en nie baie kon die twee spanne skei nie.
In die tweede helfte was daar egter nuwe diesel in die Formule 1 karretjies van Moorreesburg en goeie agterlyn het gelei na drieë deur Jaydon Markus, Jehann Bonn, Heinrich Boois en Jason Damonz. Dit was veral Edwayne Van Wyk wie die wedstryd op hom self geneem het my sy vlugvoetige systappe en rotsvas verdediging. Hy het op ‘n tyd die bal van die afskop gevang en deur die hele Saron gehardloop, en Saron moes met hande op die heupe toekyk hoe Moorreesburg RVK drieë druk vir die genot daarvan. Saron het laat in die wedstryd ‘n troosdrie gedruk, maar die koeël was reeds deur die kerk en Saron en sy ondersteuners moes met sak en as terug reis. Moorresburg RVK sal baie uit die wedstryd neem en sal weet dat Wesbank RVK hul grootste uitdaging sal wees van die seisoen sover.
Wedstryde tussen hierdie buurdorpe is gewoonlik vol opwinding en daar is nie baie te skei tussen Moorreesburg RVK en Wesbank RVK op die oomblik nie. Wesbank RVK sal sy tuisveld tot sy voordeel wil gebruik en Moorreesburg RVK weet dat indien hulle hul strategie goed uitvoer hulle die tuisspan kan ore aansit. Wesbank is egter ‘n moeilike kalant en sal die wedstryd naelskraap met minder as 5 punte wen.
Koringberg RVK het Saterdag gereis na Porterville RVK. Die tuisspan het hul eerste oorwinning behaal deur Koringberg RVK te klop. Beide spanne het hulle baie goed van hul taak gekwyt in die eerste helfte en teen rustyd was Koringberg RVK voor met 12 – 10. Porterville RVK het egter in die tweede helfte met meer dringendheid gespeel en het verwoed aangeval. Koringberg moes egter veg teen Porterville en die beseringspook. Porterville het in die tyd die drieë ingeryg. Koringberg het met ‘n paar taktiese skywe egter in die wedstryd probeer bly, maar hul verdediging was aan flarde. Koringberg sal egter baie uit die wedstryd neem en sal eerskomende Saterdag op hul tuisveld meer karakter wil toon wanneer hulle gasheer speel teen Good Hopes op Koringberg. Beide spanne is steeds opsoek na hul eerste oorwinning maar Koringberg sal op hul tuiste seker maak hul wen hul eerste wedstryd met minder as 7 punte.
Wittewater Villagers RVK reis Saterdag na Darling RVK wie nie lank sal wil treur oor hul loesing teen Never Depairs nie. Darling RVK sal wil opmaak en onmiddellik weer sy stempel afdruk op sy titel aanspraak. Dinge lyk nie so rooskleurig vir die besoekers nie en hul strewe na ‘n eerste oorwinning sal ten minste nog n week moet wag wanneer Darling gemaklik met meer as 15 punte sal wen.
Die derby-stryd teen Porterville RVK en Saron RVK op Saron sal ook vir groot opwinding sorg die komende Saterdag. Porterville sal wil voortbou op sy goeie oorwinning teenoor Koringberg RVK, maar Saron RVK is ‘n moeilike neut om te kraak op sy tuisveld. Saron sal wil opmaak vir sy loesing en behoort die Derby wedstryd naelskraap met minder as 7 punte te wen. Ons sien weereens uit na hope genot en vuurwerke op die Swartland rugbyvelde die komende Saterdag.
• Abri Adonis