Born with encephalocele, Thomas Baloyi (17) does not have an easy life.
He is unable to walk or talk and his mother, Pretty Sibisi, is desperate to find him a place where he will be cared for properly.
Pretty lives in Buhle Park with Thomas, her two other children, Senzelumusa (11) and Mbaly (3), and her cousin, Thobeka Mzobe.
As a temporary worker at the Primrose Police Station, where she cooks the food for the prisoners, Pretty does not have the means to provide Thomas with everything he needs.
She is seeking full-time employment, but at the moment is surviving on her temporary work money.
“Thomas was born at Bertha Gxowa Hospital with part of his brain outside his skull,” Pretty said.
“He was transferred to another hospital and operated on.
“When he was three years old he started to have epileptic fits and after that, he couldn’t walk or talk.”
It has been a struggle for Pretty to care for him and he was at first living in KwaZulu-Natal while she sought work in Gauteng.
However, when his granny died there was no one to care for him anymore and he came to stay with his mother, as did his siblings and Pretty’s cousin.
Thobeka takes care of Thomas during the day when Pretty is at work.
Thomas’s problems grew larger when he had to undergo an operation in November, last year, to stretch the cartilage in his arms and legs.
His mother added that he suffers from a lack of calcium and his bones and cartilage did not develop properly.
“He underwent the operation at a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal and they stretched his cartilage and removed his femur bones completely,” Pretty said.
“He is now recovering but it is difficult.
“He sometimes screams when you touch him.”
Pretty told the GCN that when Thomas heals she wants to find a home for him where he will receive specialised care.
“I have approached some places, but so far I haven’t had any luck,” she said.
“He loves to laugh and smile and I just want the best for him.”
Pretty is in need of a number of items for Thomas:
• A special care home where he could live.
• A supportive wheelchair.
• Medium-sized adult nappies.
• Pyjamas.
• Socks.
• Slippers (size five).
• Nutritious, calcium-rich food.
Donations can be dropped off at Rest-a-While Service Centre for Elderly, situated on the corner of Churchill Avenue and Shamrock Road, between 8am and 1pm, alternatively, contact the manager, Trudy Carreira, on 011 828 3059 to arrange collection.
The community can also contact Pretty on 082 721 8276.
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