Dominique Dry, a 15-year-old learner at Meerhof School, is facing the biggest challenge of his young life.

Dominique Dry (15)

Dominique was born with Marfan Syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder, and he now lives with an 88-degree scoliosis curve and constant pain that is severely affecting his health and quality of life.
Doctors have advised him that urgent surgery is needed to give Dominique the chance of a straighter spine and a healthier future. Doctors will perform a spinal fusion, placing a rod in his spine to correct the curve.
Dominique was only officially diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome last year. “We had no idea until he started getting protrusions in his chest and back. His knees are also affected and will have to be operated on at a later stage. It was a shock. As a mother, it breaks my heart to see him in constant pain,” his mother, Cherize, said. “If he is not operated on, the curve of his spine will increase, posing a danger to his organs.
Dominique is looking forward to being pain-free, but he is afraid of the operation. “I am scared of the pain after the operation and the eight weeks that I will have to lie down. However, I want to have it done and be pain-free and have a better posture and free movement,” he says.
He is a good student and hopes to become an actuary.
The operation is scheduled for next week. Although the family has medical aid, it does not cover all of the medical expenses. They have to pay the hospital over R40 000 for his stay. A BackaBuddy account has been set up to help Dominique have a quality of life again. Please support him. Donations can be made at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/straighter-spine-for-dominique.