Daveyton resident in need of financial assistance for medical expenses
Kaposi's sarcoma is a type of cancer that forms in the lining of the blood vessels and lymph nodes.
Daveyton resident Lesiba “Lee” Mothibe, who is battling Kaposi’s sarcoma, is appealing for financial assistance from the community to help cover her transportation costs and to make her home wheelchair friendly.
The 35-year-old trans woman was diagnosed with Kaposi’s sarcoma cancer in 2017 after her legs became painful, swollen and started developing lumps.
The tumours (lesions) of Kaposi’s sarcoma typically appear as painless purplish spots on the legs, feet or face. Lesions can also appear in the genital area, mouth or lymph nodes.
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The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and Intersex (LGBTQI) activist was supposed to start chemotherapy in 2017, but because her right leg was amputated due to infection, she had to delay this and wait for the wound to heal.
Lesiba can now start chemotherapy at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, however, the costs of maintaining the treatment are unaffordable as she is unemployed because of her health status.
She said transport to and from the hospital will cost her R4 500 a month as she needs to go to the hospital about four times and she also needs to renovate her bedroom and bathroom to accommodate her health condition.
“Taxis are not wheelchair friendly, hence, I will need to use a private vehicle when I go to the hospital,” said Lesiba.
“This is something the government needs to look into because it is difficult for disabled people to use taxis.”
Lesiba said this has been a difficult time for her and her family as she is unable to work and provide for them.
She was working as a legal processor for a security operations company in Edenvale.
Lesiba is also well known as the founder of the organisation Uthingo – The Rainbow and the LGBTQIA and queer pageants such as Miss Gay Daveyton, which have uplifted and empowered trans women in the area.
She also serves on the board of Gender Dynamix, the Cape Town-based group representing trans and gender-diverse communities.
She said life hasn’t been easy because she is used to being independent and now she has to depend on her family to do things for her because she is still getting used to the wheelchair.
“My mother, Prudence Mothibe, and my family have been very supportive from the beginning and without them, I wouldn’t have had the strength to survive,” she said.
“Prayer has also helped me get through each day, it helps me understand that God has different plans for all of us.”
Lesiba added that her friends Nomsa Themba and Nombulelo Mavela have been her pillar of strength whenever she needed a shoulder to cry on.
“I have also been overwhelmed by the messages of support from people on social media; they have shown that there are still people who can care for others.
“Their messages have made me stronger and ready to conquer cancer,” said Lesiba.
The fashion design graduate has launched an online fund-raising campaign.
To help or donate, visit her GoGetFunding page on https://gogetfunding.com/lee-sibas-battle-against-cancer/
For more information on how you can further assist her, email at lesibamothibe@gmail.com or visit her Facebook page, Lee Siba.
