The power of donations
When Mags, our Occupational Therapist, went to screen the Grade R’s at a crèche in the KZN Midlands last year, she noticed a little 4 year old boy “running” around on his hands and knees in the playground. Working with the Singakwenza trainer, she assessed him and saw that he was an alert, articulate little boy, with Cerebral Palsy in both his legs. So began *Thulani’s journey (not his real name). After speaking to his teacher and his mum, Mags made a few phone calls and managed to arrange for Thulani to be assessed by one of Pietermaritzburg’s top orthopaedic surgeons, who donates his time to helping cases like Thulani’s. His verdict was that Thulani would benefit from an operation to his legs, to hopefully enable him to be able to walk. But first he would need to strengthen some of the muscles in his legs in preparation for the operation. Another few phone calls were made and a kind donor sponsored a walking frame for Thulani. He took to this like a duck to water and his grin stretched from ear to ear when he realised that he could move across the room on his feet.
Another phone call was made, this time to Kershni, a physiotherapist in private practice, who donated her time and expertise to teach Thulani’s mum how to stretch and strengthen his leg muscles. Mags also did some one-on-one therapy with him, which he loved!
In January this year, Thulani was admitted to Grey’s Hospital, the local government facility, and had both his feet and legs operated on. According to the surgeons, it was a great success, and he was an incredibly brave little boy! The journey after the operation has been a challenging and painful one for Thulani, as he spent 6 weeks in full leg casts and is now in metal callipers during the day, which are very uncomfortable. Yet more phone calls from Mags have resulted in him being fitted with soft night splinting, which he is very happy with.
Kershni, the physio, has been amazing and donates her time twice a week to doing rehabilitation physiotherapy with Thulani. As Thulani’s mum only has part-time employment, it was a challenge for her to bring Thulani to physio twice a week, so guess what! Mags made another call! Thanks to a generous farming family from the area where Thulani lives, the transport costs for Thulani and his mum have now been covered. His mum has been amazing through this process, and she has diligently done all the exercises that she has been taught to do at home with him. Without her commitment, this journey would never have been as successful as it has been, and her hope echoes ours – and that of all the donors who have assisted along the way – that he will eventually be able to walk on his own.
We encountered a little oasis at our first stop in the middle of Lingelihle Township near Cradock. The school that Alfie Blume, Mrs Ncede and Mrs Beja are running is such a special little place, with a small patch of green lovingly nurtured in the centre of a dry and dusty community. It is so heartening to see a township school where the principal and teachers are so enthusiastic about education. We shared our ideas with all of the Junior Primary teachers, as well as some educators from other schools in the township and neighbouring farm schools. The warm response we received had very little to do with the 39 degree heat we experienced!
St George’s College in Port Elizabeth hosted our next workshop. With delegates from APD Nelson Mandela Bay, Early Inspiration Practitioner Support Services, local farm schools and school outreach pupils, there was a buzz of enthusiasm and energetic participation in all the activities, and we are very grateful to Catherine Logie for coordinating this for us. Some of the St George’s College pupils were discussing how they could involve the local old age home in the process of making resources for underprivileged creches in the area – what a great way to involve the community!
Marianne Crane, from Woodridge College and Prep School, was the person who sparked this journey to Port Elizabeth. She included teachers and pupils from the local community, as well as pupils, teachers and parents from Woodridge, in the workshop. There was a wide range of ages present, but always the same smiles and laughter when we got them to test the toys they had made! When even the headmaster joins in and makes a skipping rope from bread bags, you know that this is a special school.
Our final workshop was hosted at St Francis College. Caryl Logie, a retired teacher, coordinated a group that included teachers, creche caregivers, members of the local church that work in the community, creche mentors, remedial educators and Grade 7 pupils. This enthusiastic bunch of people participated fully in all the activities and left with their bag of samples that they had made, ready to inspire the children they are involved with. It was such an awesome morning!
