How a mother's love saved her daughter's life twice

WHEN Jeané Petzer was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just seven years old, her childhood instantly shifted.

- STAFF REPORTER

Instead of carefree days, her life became a cycle of insulin injections, constant blood glucose checks, and frequent trips to the doctor’s rooms and pharmacy counter. What she didn't expect was how deeply the medications, medical devices, and the people supporting her would shape not just her health, but her entire journey through life.

Now 32 years old, she is not only a kidney transplant recipient, but also a mother, a former teacher and a beacon of hope for others facing chronic illness.

Petzer’s early years were marked by the daily challenges of type 1 diabetes. Despite the constant finger pricks and insulin injections, she pursued her dream and graduated as a Foundation Phase teacher, working with children aged three to five years old. But in 2018, everything changed.

“I was suddenly too weak to keep up with the little ones. Even simple tasks like making my bed or climbing stairs felt impossible. I knew something serious was happening,’ she recalled. Unbeknown to her, these were the first signs of kidney failure - a common complication of diabetes.