Hot Cares helps Cheryl access life-changing cataract surgery

When Cheryl walked into her doctor’s rooms in 2024, she had no idea just how close to the edge she was. Tests revealed a dangerously low blood and iron count – the lowest the doctor had ever seen. Within hours, Cheryl was rushed to Johannesburg General Hospital, where she spent six days receiving multiple iron infusions and blood transfusions, fighting her way back from the brink.

Without medical aid, Cheryl and her husband Phillip have relied on the public health system, doing their best to manage her condition with chronic iron supplements and regular check-ups. But the long-term impact of that severe iron deficiency has been devastating: Cheryl has developed cataracts in both eyes, leaving her vision badly impaired and her daily life increasingly difficult.

At just 47, Cheryl works for a national retail chain, handling meat procurement for stores across Gauteng – a job that demands precision, attention to detail and long hours in front of a computer screen. She also loves sewing and knitting for others, finding joy in creating and giving. Now, even these simple pleasures are slipping out of reach as her eyesight deteriorates.

When Cheryl returned to the hospital in early 2025, she was told there was no funding available to remove her cataracts – and that the earliest they might be able to help would be June 2026, with no guarantees. For someone so young, that’s a long time to live in a world growing dimmer by the day.

That’s where Hot Cares, and the kindness of HOT 102.7FM listeners, comes in. Cheryl has faced her health challenges with immense courage, and her story touched us deeply. Thanks to your generosity, Hot Cares will be covering the costs of her cataract surgery, up to R60 000 – giving her the chance to see clearly again, protect her livelihood, and step back into the bright, independent life she deserves.