Help at last for Jacky Mokhari
A private hospital, in collaboration with the Health MECs office and local in-house medical experts have come to the aid of keloid sufferer 19-year-old, Jacky Mokhari.
POLOKWANE – The 19-year-old, Jacky Mokhari has been living with a large keloid (lesion) on his face for the past six years, which has brought him endless pain.
A keloid, often lumpy or rigid, is caused when skin is injured and fibrous tissue, called scar tissue forms over the wound to repair and protect the injury. His mother, Tryphosa, told BONUS that Jacky would wake her up in the middle of the night, crying and complaining about excruciating pain.
“After a few nights of pain, I knew that this thing growing on his cheek was more serious than I thought and that it wasn’t just a pimple because I could see how much pain he was in,” she said.
In 2014, Tryphosa took Jacky to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital and upon arrival, was told there were no beds available to admit the teenager.
He was then placed on a waiting list and eventually admitted, before staff told his mother that the machines to operate on Jacky were not working and they had to return home. Later that year, Jacky had the keloid removed, but weeks after surgery, complained of pain on his face and neck.
“I wondered if the hospital operated on him correctly. Days went by and the pain persisted. That’s when I took Jacky back to the hospital but we were told to return another time.”
“It was heartbreaking to see my child in so much pain and not receive medical assistance, yet we were at a hospital,” she said.
Tryphosa added that they eventually gave up trying to get assistance from the hospital and says the keloid has affected Jacky’s school work as they would go to the hospital on a daily basis. Tryphosa, who had a job in town, then asked her employer for assistance after being sent from pillar to post.
“My employer told me he would consult with Netcare Pholoso Hospital to see if they could assist,” she said.
A few years went by, with Tryphosa struggling to find a solution for her son, until she recently received a call from Netcare Pholoso Hospital. The hospital, in collaboration with the MECs office, its local in-house doctors, plastic surgeon Dr Thendo Netshiongolwe, and radiation oncologist, Dr Tumelo Moyaba, anaesthetists and psychosocial workers will assist with Jacky’s treatment in order to bring his life back to order.
“I am so happy, I feel as though a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” Jacky told BONUS.
BONUS will follow Jacky’s progress and keep readers informed. The Manager of Netcare Pholosho Hospital, Fabian Bennett, told BONUS that the proposed date for Jacky’s surgery is 1 December and the procedure will form part of a collaboration between Netcare Pholosho and the Mankweng Hospital.
