New wheels restore hope

VICTORY Over Disability Homes helped make life a little easier for Dean Burke, by providing him with a new wheelchair and AccuChek machine, sponsored by Queensburgh Pharmacy.

Dean fell through the floor boards of his home in Durban four years ago. A splinter pierced his right foot and he was rushed to Addington Hospital. They removed it and cleared the poison so he thought, but after a few months, his foot began to swell up. He went back into theatre and doctors told him the poison from the splinter caused an infection and gangrene in his foot. The doctors amputated all his toes. A year later, he suffered the same symptoms and underwent surgery again, where they amputated his leg up until his shin.

Dean also became diabetic which made his life even more difficult. His wheelchair was broken and was scraping the side of his leg, as the protective cushioning was torn.

While at a homecell meeting, Dean heard of Marque Pretorious and the work he does at Victory Over Disability Homes. He got in contact with Mark, who offered to help, firstly by controlling his blood sugar and then getting a new wheelchair for him.

“After the kind donation of the AccCheck machine from Queensburgh Pharmacy, we were able to monitor Dean’s blood sugar. We also arranged a new 20 inch Pacer wheelchair with a special leg raiser for him,” said Marque.

Marque also added that since Dean has his blood sugar under control, and he’s able to move around comfortably. He is hoping to get him a prosthetic leg so that he can continue with his beautiful paintings which he sells to earn an income.

Victory Over Disability Homes was started by Marque a few years ago following his disillusionment with some of the homes catering for disable people. “I can’t stand to see disable people left to their own demise. I wanted to help people with disabilities overcome their disability and make their life more meaningful. People with disability have more to offer,” said Marque.

Marque said Victory Over Disability Homes has a group of qualified specialists who aim to put whatever effort they can to put people with disabilities back into society and help them gain employment if possible. Their motto is “inclusion, dignity and quality”.

Those wanting to assist Victory Over Disability Homes with their efforts in restoring hope for people with disability, can contact the home on 031 464 5637, Marque on 071 146 5686, Belinda Phyffer on 072 539 3468 or Robin Boell on 071 081 6632.