Cape Town CSO “like angels sent to take care of me”, says US tourist

“Sadly, I’ve spent a lot of time in ambulances, but this was by far the best ride I’ve ever had.” These are the words of American tourist and cancer warrior, Sandra Goldman, who received urgent medical assistance from the Community Security Organisation CSO (security and medical) in Cape Town last week.

Goldman hasn’t stopped singing the praises of the CSO since the organisation came to her rescue at the weekend, when she fell dangerously ill.

“It’s scary being sick on holiday especially in a foreign country,” said Goldman, 64, who is touring South Africa with five of her close friends from North Carolina to “live every day to the fullest”.

“The CSO were like these angels who came to my aid when I was at my most vulnerable,” she told the SA Jewish Report.

Goldman, whose husband was born in South Africa, wanted to “show her friends this beautiful country”. So, she planned an adventure combining a mixture of tourist sites from the educational to the purely recreational.

After three inspiring days in Gauteng visiting places like Soweto, Constitution Hill, and the Cradle of Humankind, the group headed for the Cape, going to Hermanus, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek, visiting vineyards along the route such as Hamilton Russel and Babylonstoren.

Goldman said she started to “feel off” in Franschhoek, and went to the doctor on her friends’ insistence. Her symptoms gradually grew worse, but she tried to rest hoping her condition would improve.

However, no stranger to bouts of ill health since her first cancer diagnosis in 2010, she knew something wasn’t right. By the time they reached Cape Town, she began feeling really ill as her symptoms of a racing heart, light headedness, and dizziness became progressively worse.

“I was really fearful. I thought I may be having a heart attack or a stroke,” she said.

Her friend made a frantic call to Goldman’s husband’s friend, labour lawyer and deputy shadow minister for employment and labour, Michael Bagraim, asking for help.

He alerted the CSO and within minutes, the emergency situation was under control and she was taken by ambulance to the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital for further observation.

“The CSO paramedics were so patient and calming,” said Goldman, who is the executive director of the Hebrew Cemetery in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“They acted fast and were discreet. I asked them not to use sirens as I didn’t want a fuss. They were incredibly caring and friendly, and this was so comforting.

“It felt like they were angels sent to take care of me. When you’re away from home and your husband is thousands of kilometres away, it’s very stressful. The CSO immediately put me at ease. You can feel the difference between those going through the motions of their job and those who really care about your well-being, doing it because they believe in it. There’s something about being amongst Jewish people. Never mind where you are in the world, you’re family.”

Bagraim recalls receiving this “unpleasant and shocking call” from the Americans, who suspected a heart attack.

“I immediately telephoned the CSO Medical Response Team who were unbelievably efficient in getting all the salient details in a calm and respectable manner. In spite of the fact that I was emotional and speaking hurriedly, the operator managed to calm me down and get everything she needed.

“The whole operation was handled in a professional, efficient, and effective manner. The feedback I have received from the Americans is that the service wasn’t just world class but far more effective than anything they have experienced anywhere in the world,” he said.

“Our community deserves enormous accolade for the way in which we’re able to service not only our own community but guests from abroad. I’m deeply humbled by this experience, and not only applaud the CSO, but implore others to support it whenever they can.”

The CSO’s Dani Janks said, “Our mandate is to protect Jewish life and the Jewish way of life. This is why we exist, and why our volunteers and full-time medics do what they do 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. CSO Medical is about saving lives, but there’s so much more to it. It’s about caring for our patients as people and taking care of our community, from near or far.”

Goldman, who is still recovering, said the touring group is hoping to enjoy a few days in the African bush before flying home.