Gregory gets the gift of freedom
After being restricted to a bed for 16 years, with a television as his only link to the outside world, Gregory Zondi received a donation of a chin-operated wheelchair.
GREGORY Zondi, who has been bedridden for more than 16 years, has been donated a chin operated wheelchair – which he said was the best gift he could ever ask for.
Gregory was paralysed after he was caught in between a collision of a bus and a taxi which failed to stop at a red robot. His mother then tried her best to help Gregory, but due to her heart condition, it became a battle for her to move him around.
Barry Edy, the vice-president for the Association of the Physically Disabled, found a place for him at the Hillcrest Hospital about 2 and a half years ago and he has grown from strength to strength.
According to the nursing manager at the Hillcrest Hospital, Perpetua Mgogozi, she could see an improvement in Gregory during his time there but she could also see that there was a struggle and he needed extra support.
Barry climbed on board and initiated a Greg’s Wheelchair charity drive, in which he started to raise the much needed funds to purchase a chin-operated wheelchair for Gregory.
“The last donation was made three week’s ago but I placed the order three month’s ago as it had to be specially made in Johannesburg. Thanks must be given to the Highway community for their generous support and to the City Hill Church for doing the collection of funds,” said Barry.
Perpetua and the other nursing staff at the hospital thanked Barry for his continuous support. “We are very thankful for people like Barry getting involved at the hospital and I’m sure that the donation of the wheelchair is a dream come true for Gregory. With a big thanks to the physiotherapy and occupational therapy departments at the hospital we hope he will be more independent and with his creativity, we know he will be able to achieve a lot,” she said.
Gregory said that he had been at the hospital for more than two years but had never seen the grounds. “I now have the opportunity to explore the hospital’s beautiful grounds and can now go off into the outside world. The first thing I would like to do, when I get the chance, is to visit one of the shopping centres in the Hillcrest area,” said Gregory.
Tears welled in Gregory’s eyes as he thanked Barry Edy, whom he regards as a second father, the Highway community, his former classmates, the nursing staff at the hospital and the Highway Mail. “This is the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for,” said Gregory.
If you would like to make a donation to the Hillcrest Hospital contact Thabsile Zungu on 031 765 1316.
