EVEN with the world weighing down on her shoulders, Keta-Lea Wright’s smile easily reaches her eyes. She exudes humility but beams confidence despite suffering debilitating illnesses.
Through various fund-raisers, last year she was afforded the opportunity to see a doctor in Italy who specialises in scleroderma, an auto-immune condition that causes skin shrinking, muscle atrophy and spontaneous scarring.
Keta’s scleroderma started with a little patch on her lower back, which spread across her body over the years.
This restricted the growth of the right hand side of her body. Another form of scleroderma is an aggressive atrophying syndrome, called Parry Romberg Syndrome, which has affected her face and neck.
Usually taking her medication on a Sunday evening, and due to its severity, she would sometimes fall incredibly ill on the Monday and be forced to take off from school. In a move that not only highlights her character, but also her commitment to her schooling, she now takes her medication on a Friday evening, giving her the weekend to rest and recover.
ALSO READ: Fund-raiser for Keta kicks off
Unlike many teenagers, Keta wasn’t all too excited to miss her Grade 10 exams as she had done copious amounts of studying and preparation.
“The first appointment with the specialist was to see where I was at. I saw him for three consecutive days and had a thermal scan and he mapped my neck to see if has spread and a CBCT scan to map the layers to see how far the disease is into my skin and how far along the muscle atrophy is,” said Keta.
The fund-raisers hosted in her honour last year left her humbled and deeply thankful.
“It is absolutely incredible. There are so many other kids that also need help out there and to be chosen to have this help, it is absolutely incredible.”
During her spare time she rides her friend’s horses, which is good for her muscles as well as her core.
“I wasn’t really born with a sporty body,” laughed Keta.
Future plans
Now in Grade 11, her focus is set on her future, trying to be as present as possible in classes.
She hopes to study occupational therapy, specialising in equine therapy, working with disabled children.
“I have a huge passion for kids. I enjoy the joy they bring and they are drawn to me,” smiled Keta.
Her eyes turn glassy as she recalls a memory of losing a dear friend to cancer last year.
“That was really difficult,” she said. “I have gone to hospitals and seen children that are in worse positions. There are a lot of people that are worse off than me. I can still walk, run and do everything that I love. It may be bad but I don’t let it define me.”
Both her parents, John and Kirsty, said they are unbelievably proud of their daughter. “Her character just shines. She is confident, outgoing, it’s just wow. She doesn’t let it get to her,” said her loving mom.
The family thanked the Highway community, their friends and family for their ongoing love and support.
“The Land Rover Durban – Hillcrest Villagers’ Rugby Club are a family, they are brothers and have been behind us the whole way,” said John.
Throw your support behind fund-raiser
This year the Land Rover Durban – Hillcrest Villagers’ Rugby Club will host the #Rugby4Keta campaign on Saturday, 7 July at Kearsney College from 12.30pm. There will be food stalls and children will have the opportunity to snap a selfie with Sharkie.
The 3rd XV exhibition game will start at 12.30pm, the 2nd XV will take on PMB Collegians at 2pm and the 1st XV will play against the PMB Collegians from 3.30pm.
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