Protea Glen stroke survivor defies odds and graduates
Not only did she beat the odds, she attained her first qualification.
A young lady from Protea Glen recently graduated after surviving a near death experience when she had a stroke at 14 years-old.
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Doctors told her family that chances of her surviving were low.
A decade later, not only did she beat the odds, she walked the stage to attain her first qualification at the South West Gauteng College.
Sanelisiwe Sibisi is the last of five siblings, and was brought up in a child headed house hold- after the death of their mother who was the last surviving parent.
In 2011, while she was in grade 9, she suddenly collapsed and the next morning woke up with a drooping face and slurred speech.
Doctors confirmed that she had suffered a severe stroke and due to the neurological damage to the left side of her brain, speech and any cognitive activity were affected. She further suffered paralysis on the right side of her body.
“My life changed in a split of a second. The state that I was in meant I had to drop out of school. I could not talk or walk and had to rely on my family for everything. One of my older sisters resigned from her workplace to take care of me,” the 26 year-old recalled.
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Sibisi began her journey to re-learning how to speak and walk as she attended years of occupational therapy, speech therapy and physio therapy in hopes of getting her to the point she once was or at least her new normal.
She said during this time one of her biggest lows was trying to get back to school but was often bullied and ridiculed by learners.
“I watched my teenage years pass me by, and for me it was important I regain my independence again.
“I couldn’t do what my peers got up to and trying to integrate back into everyday life was hard.
“I was often ridiculed in school because I couldn’t speak properly or remember certain information.
“I was in a dark space and it got so bad that I refused to go back to school because of unhealthy environment,” she told Urban News.
After dropping out of school due to the stroke and spending a couple of years at home, her dream was to complete her matric.
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As a result, her family enrolled her for short courses, and after an impressive performance they enrolled her for college to write her matric via National Vocational Certificate (NCV) while pursing office admin.
Despite her still navigating reality and daily physical and neurological challenges, she has remains optimistic about what life holds for her. She shared her wishes to create more education on the medical condition.
“My journey is still far from over. My right hand is not fully functional, I still limp when I walk and my brain does not process information as fast, but here I am standing,” she said.
“I hope I will start a support group or awareness campaign for individuals who have gone through the same challenges and importantly highlight the issue of stroke among young people.”
Her older sister, Thobeka Marumo described her as a fighter citing that she was proud of the milestones her sister had achieved and wanted people to be inspired by her sister’s story.
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“We are super proud and we have proved everyone wrong. Her fighting spirit is amazing,” she said.
“People should see her and be reminded that obstacles will be there and to never lose hope especially young people in Soweto living with acquired disabilities to strive and never give up on their dreams.
“Every day is a new day to try again. If you want something and you know you are capable and have the support, don’t let circumstances hinder you.”
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