Modern day Bravehearts

It was a glorious day in one of Joburg’s oldest suburbs when a group of modern day ‘Bravehearts’ went for a rehabilitative fun walk.

Armed with mobility aids ranging from crutches to walking frames, along with manual and electric wheelchairs, the patients and their physiotherapists joined in on the exercise.

The occasion was the second annual fun walk of the Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital that marks World Physiotherapy Day on 8 September.

The 2km walk had a trail within the University of Johannesburg’s Bunting Road campus.

Probably the bravest amongst all the Bravehearts who participated in the walk was Owethu Chibure, a seven-year-old boy who has been in rehabilitation for the past 25 weeks. He was part of the paediatric team who joined in the walk.Owethu’s physiotherapist, Amy Solomon, said he had contracted meningococcal meningitis, a rare but serious infection. (It causes the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed.)

“Due to this, his left wrist, part of his right fingers, and both of his feet were amputated,” explained Solomon.

She added that although Chibure faces many challenges every day, he manages to be independent.

“He is an amazing and motivated child who just keeps going and keeps getting stronger every day. There is nothing he can not do at the moment,” said Solomon.

Unit manager at the hospital’s orthopaedic therapy unit, Arisha Seetharam, said the thought behind the walk was also to show the amazing work that physiotherapists do and also to involve patients in the fun activity. Seetharam added that it was also to raise awareness for physiotherapy and its role in society.

“At the same time it also raises awareness of our patients’ rehabilitation journey,” she said.

For some of the patients, it was their first time participating in the walk and they were ready to show their tenacity.

One of the walkers, Christian Prinsloo, who has been at the rehabilitation centre for the past month, said he hoped the walk would show how dedicated the patients were to get better and improve their situation.