At the age of 93, Joachim Breydenbach is a revered and much-loved senior member of the dialysis family at National Renal Care (NRC) Pinehaven in Krugersdorp. This Father’s Day, NRC pays tribute to its oldest patient.

Having retired almost 30 years ago from the South African Railways, Breydenbach, from Florida in Roodepoort, enjoyed an active lifestyle, spending a lot of time in his beloved garden before finally starting to take things more slowly in the last few years.

“My father will be turning 94 in November, and he is still spritely for his age. He is a real fighter, and to look at him, you would think he’s at least 20 years younger. Dad enjoys the company of his friends, whom he sees regularly at his dialysis sessions three times a week, spending time with family and watching his favourite TV shows,” his son Mike Breydenbach said.

A grandfather and great-grandfather with a cherished family all over the world, Breydenbach has been dialysing at NRC Pinehaven since experiencing complete kidney failure three and a half years ago. He has earned the affectionate nickname “The Godfather” due to his seniority.

“Dialysis is a lifeline for my father, and we spend a lot of time at NRC Pinehaven every week. It’s a very supportive community – everyone becomes like a family, including the staff, other patients, and their family and friends,” his son said. He added that the medical professionals and staff are especially considerate of his father due to his advanced age.

Dejmaine Raju, Gauteng operations manager of NRC, meanwhile, said Breydenbach is their eldest patient. NRC Pinehaven, located within Netcare Pinehaven Hospital, has recently reached another important milestone with a redevelopment aimed at expanding its capacity. Upon completion, the haemodialysis centre will feature enlarged treatment areas and enhanced healthcare facilities, designed to meet the evolving needs of patients and clinicians.

Next month, NRC celebrates 30 years of service to patients, providing a lifeline to thousands of people whose kidneys can no longer function to purify their blood naturally. NRC centres around the country support renal patients with services including in-centre haemodialysis, home haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and pre-dialysis education and support.

In addition, its mobile application connects dialysis patients of all ages with real-time tools for planning meals, tracking fluid intake, monitoring symptoms, and staying informed – all in one place.

“No one chooses kidney failure, but the patients we serve each day—like Mr. Breydenbach—remind us why we do what we do. Our mission is to ensure patients maintain the best possible quality of life while supporting them in pursuing what matters most, through compassionate care and a calming environment,” Dr Chevon Clark, Chief Executive Officer of NRC, said.

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