Knysna family’s race against time to save Tanja Badenhorst from a relentless infection

A Knysna family is in a desperate race to save 46-year-old Tanja Badenhorst's life and leg. She has undergone over 70 surgeries in five years due to a persistent bone infection that has returned despite three amputations.

Since suffering a spinal cord injury while working for a security company in 2015, Tanja has been unable to work and first developed the infection in her left leg in 2020.

Diagnosed as osteomyelitis, a severe infection of the bone, the condition has progressed despite repeated surgical interventions.

In 2021, her leg was amputated above the knee in the hope of stopping the infection from spreading. When that failed, surgeons amputated again, twice, each time with the infection reappearing in the remaining bone.

Her wife, Ashleigh Badenhorst, said the ordeal has left the couple physically, emotionally, and financially exhausted.

“There have been many mornings where Tanja has woken up feeling okay, and by the afternoon, her leg is swollen, red, and burning to the touch. That’s when we know another abscess has developed, and it’s back to the hospital,” Ashleigh said.

In the past seven months alone, Tanja has been taken to the theatre more than ten times.

Since the ordeal began, Ashleigh said the family has spent all of their savings on medical costs.

Each hospitalisation costs around R25,000, excluding surgeon and anaesthetist fees.

“She has no medical aid and we’ve been surviving day to day. It’s become a matter of life or death now,” Ashleigh said.

Earlier this year, the couple consulted an infectious disease specialist who ordered an MRI scan. The results, received in April, confirmed that the infection was not only still in the bone but had now reached the bone marrow.

However, she said there was a glimmer of hope.

After seeking further advice, the couple consulted an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in bone and joint infections.

"He believes the leg could still be saved, but only with complex surgery and a two-week stay in a specialised infection control unit at a private hospital in Cape Town.

“There is still blood flow to the remaining limb, which means the bone can be saved. But the treatment is highly specialised and expensive. This is now about saving Tanja’s life, not just her leg,” Ashleigh said.

Ashleigh said the estimated cost of the surgery and recovery period is R400,000. With the help of friends, family, and a national fundraising campaign, the couple has managed to raise just over R185,000.

The campaign has enabled them to secure a surgery on Wednesday, where they paid a deposit; however, the remaining funds still need to be raised.

“Tanja has been through so much. She lost her job, then her ability to walk. She even gave up her second passion — rescuing and rehabilitating birds — because of the leg. But she’s a fighter. She just wants her life back,” Ashleigh said.

She said that any support, financial contributions, donations, or simply sharing their story would make a difference.

“This has been a traumatic and painful journey for our family. We are exhausted, but hopeful. We want to thank every person who has helped us so far.”

A crowdfunding campaign remains active as the family attempts to raise the outstanding funds.

For more information or to assist, please visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/saving-a-leg

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