Queenie Norman Smith lost her battle with kidney disease over the weekend.
The brave Pelican Park woman passed away on her way to see a renal doctor at about 7am on Saturday, with her mother and husband at her side.
The 30-year-old’s family had been struggling to cover medical costs after she had been diagnosed with the chronic disease two years ago.
They told the Daily Voice they had started a crowd-funding campaign on BackaBuddy in the hope of raising R30 000 for her monthly dialysis.
Doctors had told Queenie to work on her weight before she could have renal replacement therapy.
Her sister, Hilda Norman Booysen, says they were told her body was rejecting the dialysis and doctors said the best option was to take her home.
“She refused to believe the dialysis wouldn’t help and had so much energy.
“She still booked herself in at Victoria Hospital on Saturday night and we got her ready,” says Hilda.
“She was so beautiful in the morning, she got herself out of the Uber on her wheelchair and then she was gone.
“She died peacefully, she never fought.
“I don’t think her pain and suffering was in vain, we all know what she went through.
“We would like to thank everyone who supported us and were there with us throughout this journey.
“We’d like to thank Daily Voice for helping us fight even harder to raise funds for Queenie.”
Hartseer aunt, Yolanda Osojnik, says: “I believe awareness should be created so other don’t have to struggle.
“It was a real struggle. Sadly we could not win this battle.”
Yolanda is saddened that Queenie couldn’t receive potentially life-saving treatment and was an outpatient, despite the severity of her condition.
She is survived by two children, John Paul Norman, 6, and Taye-Leigh Norman, 10, her 31-year-old husband and her mom Metell Norman.
A memorial service will be held at her home in Sterretjie Road on Thursday and her funeral will be on Saturday.