Life-saving operation keeps Brendon walking
Some years later, Brendon MacDonald has made a remarkable recovery, and thanks to the greater Alberton community, he was saved from confinement to a wheelchair.
New Redruth’s Brendon MacDonald is now exploring his business venture and remained robust after a life-changing operation to realign his spine.
There is a list of things he wishes he could do, like working with his hands and carrying heavy machinery, but that has become a mammoth task for the 22-year-old.
MacDonald had progressive scoliosis, and his lateral spinal curvature had increased to 55 degrees. This curvature could have seen him eventually needing a wheelchair.
He had an operation on July 28, 2016, after a cycling fun run raised funds for MacDonald, then only 14 years old.
It happened after the Alberton Record spread the word on July 4, 2015, inviting all cyclists to ride in aid of MacDonald’s fundraiser.
The cycling team leader was Mark Segers from the DOC Club, and the event was at the Boswell Wilkie Circus and Coffee Shop. The funds raised greatly helped with the massive medical bill.
After the operation, MacDonald missed an entire term of schooling while recovering and could no longer lift or carry heavy objects.
According to his mother, Elizabeth Long, “Brendon didn’t have a fun schooling career.”
He was often bullied and treated as an outcast because he was somewhat different from his peers.
How it started
“In primary school, I always had terrible stomach cramps and didn’t know what was happening. When we went to the doctor, she said my back was so skew it was causing the cramps. It pushed my organs to one side of my body. They tried physiotherapy and back stretching, but that didn’t make any difference,” explained MacDonald.
Long said, “We didn’t want to do the operation. We first looked for alternatives. We found enough funds to pay for the doctor with the cycling rally, and it was a success. Thanks to the Alberton Record for getting out the word.”
Other cyclists from neighbouring communities came on board to show their support.
Capacity to withstand
After completing his matric, he weighed his options on how best to fit into the working class.
“I know I can’t do too many physical things, or I’ll spend the next two days in bed. Post-matric, I tried researching some good lines of work I could do. I figured it could be a good idea to try doing building maintenance, and that’s when I came up with my handyman service,” said MacDonald.
He relied on contractors because he could not be hands-on, and his business thrived until halted by financial setbacks.
Long, a mother of four now had to become the pillar of the family and financially support her family.
“With how things stand, I have financially carried my entire family of eight and have since started my own laser lipo business. I also have a less privileged family that I care for and assist them where I can,” she explained.
As soon as her business picked up, she said she would help MacDonald rebuild his business.
