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. This Father’s Day, NRC pays tribute to its oldest patient.
Having retired almost 30 years ago from the South African Railways, Joachim, 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, says his son Mike Breydenbach.
“My father will be turning 94 in November, and he is still spritely for his age – he’s 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.”
A grandfather and great-grandfather with a cherished family all over the world, Mr Breydenbach has been dialysing at NRC Pinehaven since experiencing complete kidney failure three and a half years ago, and has earned the affectionate nickname ‘The Godfather’ due to his seniority.
| It may be cold outside, but it's warm and welcoming inside National Renal Care Pinehaven. At 93, Joachim Breydenbach, a treasured member of the NRC dialysis family, faces his treatments with quiet strength and dignity. This Father’s Day, we honour our oldest patient, who is a source of inspiration for everyone here. |
| Surrounded by the caring team at National Renal Care Pinehaven, Mr Joachim Breydenbach has found an extended family here. A devoted grandfather and great-grandfather, he’s been dialysing with NRC for over three and a half years after kidney failure. Affectionately called ‘The Godfather’ for his seniority, Joachim’s strength and spirit inspire us all. From left to right: registered nurse Hulisani Khavhadi, Mr Joachim Breydenbach, registered nurse Ayanda Makubu, and Rebaome Monei. |
“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. The medical professionals, including Dr Variava and staff, are especially considerate of my father, which we truly appreciate at his age.”
“Mr Breydenbach is National Renal Care’s eldest patient, and we wish him, and every father, a very happy Father’s Day from all of us in the NRC family,” says Dejmaine Raju, Gauteng operations manager of NRC.
“We consider every patient a member of our close-knit community, as we provide care that is person-centred, digitally enabled and rooted in compassion at every stage of kidney disease,” she says.
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.
“This redevelopment reinforces National Renal Care’s unwavering commitment to delivering care that is rooted in the outcomes that matter most to patients, allowing them to live optimally with their condition, confident in the clinical and compassionate support our units provide within a homely, tranquil environment.
In July 2025, NRC celebrates 30 years of patient-centred excellence, 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, the National Renal Care 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.
NRC has achieved international accreditation from the British Standards Institute (BSI) for ISO 9001:2015 certification, affirming the quality of NRC's patient care and operations nationwide, aligned with international standards for quality management systems.
Dr Chevon Clark, Chief Executive Officer of National Renal Care (NRC), extended heartfelt thanks to patients, their families, and supporters, as well as the dedicated NRC staff and consulting clinicians, who help cultivate a spirit of warmth and a strong sense of connection and support in NRC units across South Africa.
“No one chooses kidney failure,” Dr Clark said. “But the patients we serve each day—like Mr. Breydenbach, fondly known as ‘The Godfather’ of our NRC Pinehaven family—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.”
“As we celebrate 30 years of serving the renal community, we are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of the NRC journey. Thank you for being an essential part of our ever-growing NRC family.”
Ends
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