Katleho Seheri is a vibrant 17-year-old, student at Leondale High School, in Germiston, who was forced to repeat Grade 11, this year, due to a long absence from school in 2013.
In February, last year, Katleho developed a sudden pain in both her feet, which was the beginning of a year-long nightmare.
The pain resulted in her requiring a below the knee amputation of her right leg, in November.
For many months doctors at Charlette Maxeke Hospital were baffled by the condition that continually returned negative test results, but caused the teenager excruciating pain.
Katleho’s foot then auto-amputated prior to an operation, due to gangrene.
January, this year, the brave girl returned to school, walking with the aid of crutches and yearning for the day her family could afford a prosthesis.
Soon after watching StandwithStan NPC, which was featured on television news one night, Katleho enthusiastically completed the application forms in the hope she would be successful in her application for a new leg and foot.
StandwithStan NPC is a registered non-profit and public benefit organisation that provides disadvantaged amputees with quality prostheses, training and mentorship, to enable them to live more productive and fulfilled lives.
The company was founded in January, 2013, by Stan Andrews, an amputee himself, after realising his lifelong dream of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.
Andrews’ own experiences have ensured that he develop an excellent understanding of the importance of having the correct prosthetics that are best suited to each individual’s requirements.
Realising that so many amputees are not able to live fulfilled lives due to having poor, or no prosthetics at all, Andrews chose to be part of the change in the amputees’ lives by forming the organisation.
After hearing the young girl’s story, Spar North Rand generously donated funds to StandwithStan NPC, for her prosthesis.
Katleho has since been to a medical prosthetist for assessment and fittings and received her prosthesis on August 19.
Having just received her most precious gift the youngster had a week and a half to practise her walking skills before she joined the StandwithStan 60-team that participated in the Spar Women’s 5km Walk on August 30.
Katleho is still trying to get used to walking on her own, and is enjoying every step.
Spar North Rand was moved to donate the funds for Katleho’s new limb after reading her tragic story.
StandwithStan NPC arranged for the teenager to receive her new prosthetic leg in time to join other amputees in the StandwithStan team who walked 5km in South Africa’s most beautiful road race.
Katleho’s classmates, teachers, friends and family members cheered her on during the walk, at Supersport Park, in Centurion.
New Balance, a leading global athletics products company, generously kitted her out from head to toe for the special occasion.
Katleho is looking forward to every step she will take as she celebrates her personal triumph over a long and debilitating illness, agonising pain, gangrene, a surgical amputation and then having to walk with the aid of crutches for so long.
According to Kgothatso Seheri, Katleho’s mother, the tenacious young girl was well motivated for the race and felt like a champion even before the walk.
“The race went well and she managed to finish it; I am very proud of her, she is a positive thinker and doesn’t believe in giving up,” she said.
The vibrant youngster enjoyed the race.
“The race was great; I had a blast and I appreciate the donation of the prosthetic leg,” said Katleho.
She added that she hasn’t and isn’t experiencing challenges with her new leg.
“I have adjusted really quickly to it, being around loved ones, praying and having support really kept me going,”she explained.
“I would like to encourage people who might find themselves in a similar situation to be strong and keep going, because there is light at the end of every tunnel; never give up.
“God has really been helpful.”
Katleho would like to study climatology at university, but her short term goal is to get back to playing basketball.
