CEO of Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital shares inspirational story
Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital CEO shared her inspirational journey from a dreamer to a survivor and now, a healer.
In a story that is as inspiring as it is remarkable, Dr Nkuli Boikhutso, CEO of Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, shared her journey from surviving a bomb blast and ovarian cancer as a child to leading one of South Africa’s most prominent children’s hospitals.
Dr Boikhutso’s early life was marked by unimaginable challenges. In 1991, she survived a bomb blast in Hillbrow, and spent time in hospital receiving treatment. A few years later, she received a devastating diagnosis of ovarian cancer, when she was just 14 years old. Despite this, she remained hopeful, drawing strength from her supportive family and the medical team around her, including sister Sadie, the head nurse manager of oncology at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
It was sister Sadie who introduced Dr Boikhutso to the Reach For A Dream Foundation, a non-profit organisation that has been inspiring hope and making dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses for over three decades.
“My dream was to visit my aunt, who lived in Washington DC,” Dr Boikhutso recalled. Thanks to the foundation, that arranged a trip to the United States, she lived her dream. It provided her with a glimpse into a world beyond her familiar surroundings in Soweto.
Today, as a cancer survivor and the CEO of Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NMCH) in Parktown, Dr Boikhutso uses her personal life lessons and professional expertise to ensure that every child in the care of the hospital receives the best possible treatment.
“The experiences I had growing up confirmed that being a doctor was what I wanted to do. Specifically, I wanted to work and help sick children like me and ensure that they receive the help and care they need,” she reflected.
The opportunity to lead NMCH was a transformative experience for Dr Boikhutso. “I am not the type who likes to be at the forefront. I am a background person who wants to do the work and get it done,” she admitted. She approaches her leadership role with grace and pragmatism, understanding that the hospital environment can be unpredictable and challenging.
Dr Boikhutso is deeply attuned to the significant impact that chronic illnesses have on children and their families. “It keeps me going when I hear stories from parents, who are so grateful,” she said. “A sick child has a significant impact on the family, especially on the parents, and I feel so proud to be a part of their treatment journey.”
The resilience of the children treated at the hospital inspires her, as does the crucial role of hope in their journey.
Dr Boikhutso’s journey embodies the mission of the Reach for a Dream Foundation: to give children battling life-threatening illnesses a magical experience that allows them to reclaim their childhood which can often be lost amidst hospital wards and medical procedures.
“At Reach For A Dream, we believe in the healing power of dreams, and Dr Boikhutso’s life is a shining example of that belief coming to life,” said Julia Sotirianakos, CEO of Reach For A Dream.
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