Desperate wait for surgery to recover his ability to walk
EIGHT years after he was diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis (TB), Vukile Ndzandzana might still have to wait a further three years for an operation to release his tendons and be able to walk again.
The Mdantsane NU14 married father of two was diagnosed with spinal TB in 2009 while working as a tool setter at Kroomberg for 15 years.
He had had to stop working after he was diagnosed as he cannot walk.
He went for TB treatment at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital for nine months.
After completing the treatment, he started with physiotherapy and doctors noticed that his tendons had actually shrunk and needed to be released.
“Doctors told me I was lucky because my back tissues were not damaged so I am not paralysed. My leg tendons just shrank so I just need an operation that will release them so I can be able to continue with my physiotherapy and start walking again,” the 45-year-old said.
Ndzandzana said he was told at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in 2015 that he would have to wait for five years for new facilities to be opened while the life changing operation at a private hospital would cost about R30 000.
“If I had the money or a medical aid I would have gone to [Life] St Dominic’s Hospital, but I don’t have that kind of money.
“If anyone can help me raise these funds or even a doctor who would be willing to change my life by helping with this operation, I would be eternally gratefully because time is not waiting for me while I am sitting on this wheelchair.”
Ndzandzana said providing for his unemployed wife and two children aged 13 and 10 respectively had become difficult ever since he was diagnosed.
Surviving on government’s social grant was not the ideal situation, he said.
“Everything is more expensive now. My kids are growing up and they will want to go to tertiary soon and I won’t be able to afford to send them,” he said.
Provincial health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said it would be difficult to comment without the facts.
“I can’t give a comment on this but the best thing I would advise in this situation is for him to go back to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital and then we’ll take it from there.
“I will speak to Dr [Mthandeki] Xamlashe, who is the CEO at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital. He will study his file and see what can be done about his situation.” —