POSITIVE LIVING Amputee yearns to play softball again despite losing a leg
Koketso ‘Banzo’ Seleke believes the best way to find oneself is to lose yourself in the service of others in all the ways possible. The 28 year old nurse and former Vice Chairperson of the National Softball team uses a special prosthetic leg that would allow her to resume her passion for playing softball.
Banzo, as she is affectionately called, is a nurse at Unit 7 clinic in Jwaneng, who played for the Wells International softball club. She lost her leg following a traumatic car accident.
“Around November 2018, we were taking a patient to Sabrana Psychiatric Hospital. Due to some delays, we ended up having to travel very late at night and unfortunately we hit a cows as we were driving back to our station.
“I was taken to surgery right away at Princess Marina Hospital because my leg was shattered. The doctors said there was nothing left to do but ampute my lower leg.
At first, Banzo says she was really upset that they amputated her leg.
“I hated that I didn’t have a say in it. I love the outdoors and sports and so I also thought that everything important to me had been stripped away from me.
In a space of a year, I had not only graduated from nursing school and was in a job I love, but I had also assisted my team to championship status after beating police softball team during the Phikwe extravaganza. I struggled with the thought that I wasn’t going to be able to live an active life,” Banzo said. Adding, “It took me a while to accept that and then I realized how grateful I am that they saved my life.”
Proving that tough times don’t last, but tough people do, Banzo says the accident gave her life a purpose, a direction.
“When I look back at the accident, I don’t even
view it as a negative. I view it as a positive. It makes me know what’s important in my life. It puts things into perspective,” she said.
Meeting fellow amputee, Partington Mtatabikwa, a motivational speaker who lost an arm and a leg in a mining accident helped too. She says after meeting him and talking to him, her outlook changed entirely once she saw how he was thriving despite his disability.
Banzo explained to The Midweek Sun that she doesn’t hide her missing leg with long dresses or pants. She is proud to show it as it signifies how blessed she is to have a second chance at life. She doesn’t take anything for granted and lives her life the way she wants to. “After I lost my leg, I realised that a lot of people with disabilities are not recognised and some try by all means to hide. It’s not right.”
She lives a very active lifestyle, walks up to 5 kms regularly, works out at the gym and has even won two medals for aerobics. For four years now, Banzo spends hours on her one leg to make sure her patients receive the best care possible. “My job is fulfilling, I have learnt to even be more patient and communicate well with our patients. It is one of the things I have realised they value, to be seen, recognised and know that you matter. We all want that,” Banzo said.
What she would also really love is to be able to serve her country in the softball space. “I refuse to give up the game I love so much”. To be able to play again, she needs a specialised Genium prosthetic leg which is the closest technology has come to natural walking and allows more functionality for above-knee amputees.
The Motor Vehicle Fund (MVA) could not buy the leg for her because it would exhaust her account and she wouldn’t be able to afford her other medical needs and the basic prosthetic leg can only enable her to walk to and from work. “I need more than that for my life.” Though expensive, Banzo says the multi-tasking prosthesis would allow her to play the way she used to play, or at least close to it. “I would love to play for as long as possible. Not only do I enjoy playing softball, I also want it to be seen that people with disabilities can still pursue their dreams and have fun”.
On May 8th, Jwaneng Town Council will host a tea party at the office garden to honour Banzo and help raise funds for her. Tickets are sold for P75.