Letho wheels himself to mobility

WHEN a local NPO arrived at Mount Moriah to deliver a wheel chair to five-year-old Lethokuhle Ngcobo, his elation could not be contained. Bursting with joy Letho couldn’t stop pushing himself around. His excited voice filled every room of their small RDP house.

“Ngiyekele ngiziphushe mina (let me push myself),” he said to his mother, Ayanda Ngcobo who also couldn’t hide her delight. 

The Northglen News first met Letho last month after local councilor, Pete Graham posted about his plight.

Also read: Little Letho’s life changed forever

In a Facebook post on his page, Pete’s Post Graham made a fervent appeal for help for Lethokuhle. He titled it, ‘Meet my little friend Lethokuhle’ and went on to say: “The following post is about a little guy I have come to know and love in Mount Moriah. He is always smiling and has the brightest little smile I have ever seen. When you see the circumstances in which he lives it forces you to re-evaluate your own problems.

“He suffers from a disease of the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots called Myeloradiculpathy resulting in a congenital spinal malformation meaning he has paraparesis of both legs. This has resulted in him suffering from both bowl and urine incontinence. (basically his spine is badly deformed and he is cripple in both legs with no bowl/urine control).”

There is no cure for Lethokuhle’s condition but through the determination of his mother and Graham he makes regular visits to Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital where he is receiving palliative treatment.
Graham went on to appeal for nappies and a wheelchair. No sooner had he made the appeal that he had a response and nine days later, Letho had a new wheelchair. While his mother was happy with the donation she said with it being one designed for adults, it made it difficult to navigate.

Also read: Twins forced to take ‘shifts’ going to school

But once Women’s International Zionist Organisation (WIZO), a non-profit organisation heard about Letho they stepped into action. And 19 days later, Letho was zooming around in his new wheel chair.

WIZO Durban chairlady Laurienne Baitz said: “The wheel chair is specifically designed for children as we wish to empower education through mobility. Mobility from early childhood is a gate to education. It is the basis for self- confidence and independence. Thechair’s are imported from Israel.” 

Letho’s mother, Ayanda said no words could convey her gratitude.

For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us Instagram