14/10/2017
After more than a decade with no diagnostic facility available Midstream Mediclinic made history this week with the first Malignant Hyperthermia testing on our continent in many many years. As this is a potential life threatening condition affecting whole families every muscle tested is a life and family saved.
A special word of appreciation for Prof Pierre Fourie, Natalie Zimmelman, Japie Marais and the rest of SASA's support over the years and sponsoring of our lab technician William McMahon's training in Europe. Thankyou Wian for your dedication and hard work and most of all thankyou that you share my passion for our MH patients. A special word of appreciation to dr Hyla Kluyts for years of support and especially being instrumental in the MHCSA website and ANSA database. Thankyou Johann Geertsema and his whole Mediclinic team for the amazing support with the set-up of this specialised testing facility. This puts preventative medicine and safe health care into practice. A big thank you to drs Phillip and Mandy de Lange ( and the whole Walk-a-mile team) for all the incredible support and taking care of our patients' muscle biopsies. Also much appreciation for my associates in Group7 anaesthetist's drs Chantel Blignaut and Marie Karshagen and dr Daksha Govind for years and years of encouragement and support. Thank you so much Prof Lizette van Rensburg for many years of collaboration and believing that the IVCT lab will happen. A special word of thanks and appreciation to all my collegues and dear friends all over the world in the MH community for years and years of support: Prof Phil Hopkins, Prof Albert Urwyler, dr Diana Bendixen, dr Klaus Glahn, dr Per Bo Larsen, dr Marc Snoeck, Prof Thierry Girard, dr Stephan Johansen, Prof Luc Heytens, Prof Robyn Gilles, Prof Kathryn Stowell, Dr Elaine Langton, Prof Clemens Muller, Dr Neil Po***ck, Dr Vincenso Tagazzini, Prof Werner Klingler, Prof Susan Treves, Dr Henry Rosenberg and Prof Sheila Muldoon. Thank you Prof Analee Milner and Prof Frans Smith and Ulrich Mors for believing in me. For my dear husband, my mom, sister dr Sanet Venter (and my whole family) that held my hands high not to give up on this project for the past 14 years.
Thankyou for our first 2 MHS testing patients Zarina Aberdeen and Farhana Daya for being amazing and giving us permission to post their pictures.
Thankyou to all the MH patients and their families out there and those that lost their dear lives to this condition, this is all because of you.
I believe with all my heart: every life counts!
Hannah Brand
