For Denlee resident Hannes Brits every day is a blessing as it may be the last which he can be independently mobile.
The 29-year-old had his left leg amputated in 2010 and now, if he doesn’t get a prosthetic leg soon, he might lose his right foot.
This is due to the fact that his right leg is under extreme pressure and Hannes has developed circulation problems in it.
Hannes’ problems started when he was six-weeks-old.
Due to an unfortunate accident while being bathed, his leg was badly broken.
When his father, Ockert, got home from work later that day, he noticed the leg was blue and his child was crying uncontrollably.
He immediately rushed Hannes to hospital.
“At six-weeks-old I had to be operated on and the problems with my leg started from there,” Hannes said.
“I was in plaster of paris for the first seven years of my life and in and out of hospital, having numerous operations.
“Due to the operations, my left leg was about 15cm shorter than the right one.”
Hannes describes his childhood in Carolina, Mpumalanga, where he grew up, as full of ridicule.
“I couldn’t take part in sport and was teased as I had to wear a special shoe to aid me in walking,” he said.
Hannes had pins in his leg and in July 2010, his body started to reject what the metal the pins were made of.
His osteoporosis developed into a chronic bone infection called osteomyelitis.
“My leg was basically rotting from the inside,” he explained.
He became very ill due to the infection and doctors informed him that, if he did not have the leg amputated, the infection would eventually kill him.
Hannes’ leg was amputated on November 3, 2010, just above the knee.
“However, two weeks after the first amputation, the cut became infected because of the staples which were used to close it, and I had to be rushed back to hospital and have the leg re-amputated.
“During this operation, they cut away too much bone leaving me with a very short stump,” Hannes said.
Since 2010, Hannes has been on the waiting list, both at Baragwanath and Tambo Memorial hospitals, for a prosthetic leg, but nothing has materialised so far.
He recently went to see a prosthetist at the Milpark Hospital and, after a two-hour assessment, was told that because of the pressure on his right leg, he has developed circulation problems and if he does not get a prosthetic leg soon, he runs the risk of having his right foot amputated too.
Hannes does not have medical aid and is trying to raise funds to afford a prosthetic leg.
“We believe it will cost about R130 000, which will include the physiotherapy needed,” Hannes said.
“In order to raise funds we will be having a fund-raiser on June 13, at the Barnyard Theatre in Rivonia.
“To book tickets, you can email to samantha730709@gmail.com.”
Hannes is supported by his wife, Samantha, and step-children Gareth (20) and Rachel (10) Holder.
He said, “The leg will mean the world to me.
“It will give me the freedom to walk and drastically improve my mobility.
“It will basically mean a whole new beginning for me.”
Hannes likes to be active and often goes to gym.
He is interested in becoming a motivational speaker and hopes to inspire people by showing them that no matter what deal life throws you, you can face it head-on and give it all you’ve got.
He is also looking for sponsors, not only for the prosthetic leg, but to organise trips like cycling from Johannesburg to Cape Town and to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
These will be done as fund-raising trips to aid other amputees.
But the first thing Hannes wants to do, when he gets his prosthetic leg, is very special to him.
“I just want to walk next to my wife and able to hold her hand,” he said.
If you are able to assist Hannes in any way email his wife Samantha at samantha730709@gmail.com.
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