Nkosinati

Nkosinati is a young man in his early 20’s who until recently lived a normal, healthy, active life. Just before Christmas of 2010, whilst out celebrating the holidays with friends he was caught in cross fire from a fight. His friend was killed and he received a gun shot wound to his back.

 

He was hospitalized for over 3 months and was brought to our attention by staff at Emmaus (our local hospital) who wanted to discharge him but had no way of getting him home.

 

Since then we have been working with Nkosinati. He was discharged with horrendous bed sores which after 2 months of treatment are still not entirely healed. We have helped with changing of dressings, accessing a disability grant for him and are now ready to start him with physiotherapy at Isibani.

 

He is gradually getting some feeling back in one leg and we are hopeful that one day he will walk again. We were donated some old floor boards by the Methodist church in Winterton and were able to make a wheelchair ramp for him to be able to get in and out of his house.

 

 

It is hard to describe Nkosinati, he has coped amazingly well with his disability and in the time we have known him have never known him to be sorry for himself or even sad. We are always greeted by his amazing smile and resilience to his situation.

 

He doesn’t have electricity or water in his home but is supported well by neighbours who call in every day to help with cooking, washing and other practicalites.

 

People often ask how we cope as volunteers with all the hardship and despair we see everyday and I would have to say that for me meeting people like Nkosinati make it all worthwhile. He is an amazing man and one we are privileged to know.