New lease of life for one-legged man, 94
For five years 94-year-old Danile Ndombo has struggled on one leg, but thanks to two warm-hearted women he can now move around freely again.
Ndombo from Stutterheim fell into a manhole in 2014, injuring his leg so badly that it had to be amputated.
Although he was well past retirement age, he continued to take on casual gardening jobs.
“I grew up without any formal education and worked on farms. As a young adult I relocated to Gauteng, where I worked on the mines before returning to the Border-Kei region and continuing with farm life,” he said.
Then, on that fateful day in 2014, Ndombo fell into the open manhole. He managed to get himself home, but was unable to walk to the local clinic. He had no phone from which to call for help. He lived with the pain, hoping his leg would heal.
“When I started noticing sores and rot over my leg, I became worried. Some neighbours took me to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital.
“That is where the doctor informed me that my leg was gangrenous and would have to be amputated. Naturally I was afraid to lose my leg, but even less did I want to lose my life.”
He was given a wheelchair and sent home. His new reality was that he could not work and had to survive on a pension grant. He had to navigate life in a wheelchair not well-suited to his rural surroundings.
“I applied for a prosthetic leg from the hospital but I struggled to get feedback. Then five years later I was informed that my request had been declined due to my age,” he said.
Ndombo’s niece, Xoliswa Dube, was sad to see his daily struggles.
She came across Facebook posts by Marissa Nel & Associates Medical Prosthetics, and decided to take a chance and reach out with her uncle’s story.
Nel, touched by the story, met Ndombo, assessed his injury and decided something could be done.
She arranged for the donation of a prosthetic leg, and sponsored the manufacture of the socket and fitting.
“I never thought it would be possible to get a leg,” Ndombo said.
“It’s a dream come true. Now I will be able to do things on my own, like clean my house and do my shopping. It’s going to change my life.”
Thursday was International Day of Disabled Persons.
Nel said great lessons could be learnt from Ndombo’s situation.
“We can’t deny people the opportunity to live without limitations due to age,” she said.
“It’s important to me that
Danile knows his life matters, regardless of his age or disability.”
Ndombo’s leg was fitted on Tuesday, and he will receive support as he learns how to use it.