Course completed despite debilitating stroke
WHAT was meant to be an exciting final year at Nelson Mandela University for Thobani Mkananda in 2016 instead turned into one of the most traumatic times of his life when he suffered a sudden stroke.
Mkananda, 26, was meant to graduate with a BA in psychology but after the stroke he could not speak coherently or walk.
He lost the use of his hand and his face froze on one side, which all led to him missing his examinations.
But Mkananda will graduate to- morrow and is working on his postgraduate diploma in maritime studies.
An MRI scan revealed a blocked artery in the left hemisphere of the brain, which is what doctors suspect caused the stroke.
They later put him on a monitored programme to thin out the artery.
After his two-week hospital stay, Mkananda’s church community took turns hosting him in their homes and congregants from various medical fields assisted with his recovery pro- cess. He said his church stepped in when his family, based in Lusikisiki, could not due to financial constraints.
After months of intensive therapies, Thobani is well on his way to recovery.
He had to undergo speech therapy to learn how to speak again, physiotherapy to help with the mobility of his lower limbs and occupational therapy to try and assist him with his hand.
He also required biokinetic therapy to exercise the whole body, and psychotherapy to deal with the trau- ma and readjust his outlook on life.
Mkananda has expressed his gratitude to the many who assisted him on his journey to his qualification.
“I thank Nelson Mandela University with all its resources, my faculty for their patience and support, student counselling and the disability unit, who assisted with everything.
“I was also so blessed and grateful to have my spiritual family at Oxygen Life Church. It was not easy, but with all their help, I’ve done it,” he said.