Nappi’s return brings joy

A MARIANNHILL couple threw a party on Saturday to celebrate the return of their little miniature pony, Nappi (Napolean).

Leigh and Jim Lemon moved to the Mariannhill area two years ago to assist the community.

The couple has always been passionate about assisting underprivileged communities and worked with the Clermont community in the past.

Leigh Ann said they moved out of their really comfortable home in Pinetown central to go to live in Sithundu Hills, Mariannhill.

“We are pretty much the only white people living here but with the help of Pastor Moses Pillay of Abundant Life Ministries and the congregation we have settled in.

“It was not easy when we came here as we were accused of all kinds of things including being drug dealers.

“We moved here as we have a heart for community work involving children and felt we would serve them better if we understood their struggles.

“My friends and family were horrified and all predicted we would be dead, beaten up within the first two weeks. Well, we have been here doing what we do for the last two years and never have been more alive and kicking,” said Leigh.

About a month and a half back, the couple purchased a little miniature pony to use as a therapy pony for the children.

The adorable and kind Nappi, which is 76 centimetres high, the size of a large dog, became very sick and the only option was to put him down as the Lemons’ did not have enough for the surgery and hospital bill of R50 000.

Nappi struggled with serious colic for a week until it was inevitable that surgery was the only option.

“He had serious stomach obstruction and he was slowly and painfully dying. The children were heartbroken as we were as Nappi is more than just a pony but their friend, our colleague, part of the team,” she said.

Leigh added that it was a desperate situation as surgery was incredibly risky to say the least due to his size and a huge operation was a lot to go through and with no guarantee of success.

“My family was also going through some rough time as my husband (who comes from Texas USA ) had just received word that Sydney, his niece, had passed away. Sydney was 12 years old and died from aplastic anaemia.

“We received the phone call from the US and the vet about Nappi within the same hour. Leigh said she cried the whole night believing her friend was dead.

“In the morning with a brave tear stained face I got up and carried on. Then I received a phone call, apparently no one at Summerveld Hospital would do the deed. No one would euthanase Nappi so they had come up with a plan. They asked if I could pay the cost of medicine alone and they would cover the rest.

Nappi went into surgery at night and at 10.30pm I received a call the op was a success, our little man had a chance. The rest was up to him,” she said.

The couple said there are no words to express their gratitude and excitement to the hospital for their generosity. “I will forever be grateful to them for what they did for us and children in the community.

The Lemons’ also run a ministry called Nkosinathi home of refuge.