21st Nov 2024 11:27:28 AM The Charities | The Children | Dorah Mokoena | Health | Schools / Training | Community | Regional Reports | UMashesha Home Ado Balombo Bambula Agnes Wabiwa Amanda Simanga Amina Mahamat Amukelani Dube Andani Mphaphuli Anele Nyongwana Babalwa Debele Babalwa Mfengu Baby Babongile Bafana Nzima Basheeba Worlotoe Benoni Boipelo Mosegedi Bongani Madlala Bongani Phakati Bonginkosi Brendan Busisiwe C Caroline Gichuki Chris M Clara Deon Slabbert Emmanuel Lawal Esihle Evelyn Minto Essono's Feleng Franklin Fursy Mugobe Gabriel Gabriel C Gamuchirai Vanessa Gohodza Gloria Gontise Mogotsi Habiba Hatendi Simbe Helen Matondo Hlumelo Dondashe Irene Peta Jabulani Malungane Jacques Abrahams Janine Barends Jose Mvula Kagiso Maphoso Kagiso Mathebula Kagiso Mphuti Karabo Thebedi Kedibone Kenyan Kezia Fern Samuel Kjetil Sandivk Havnen Koketso Sekuru Lathlehele Lee Branco Liane Grond Lida Basson Loide Londeka Ngidi Maje Mbali Michelle Ecape Michelle Mthenjwa Mimi Mlungisi Mohau Qumpula Mpho Maja Munashe Mungo Nete Musa Zwane Musiwa Neliswe Radebe Nelson Tsabalala Nkosi Ncube Nkululeko Nkululeko Jnr Nomthandazo Shongwe NonMireille Nosihle Nthabiseng Nyakallo Oscar Mlondolozi Hadebe Perlucia Phillip Lesingaran Phindile Piet Moloja Rachid Reagan Rien ne Dit Rolivhuwa Matodzi Rose Wambua Rumbi Saloma Aphanye Sameh Chiboub Samkelo Somi Samukelo Radebe Seetsa Mosoma Seif Seiso Selamawit Shaun Shaun Hart Shirley Seqobane Sicelo Simamkele Sithembiso Hlatshwayo SiyaAndile Siyabonga Morwasetla Siyabonga Nokumbi Siyamthanda Sizwe Steven Marakeng Mpyana Sthabile Sunday Mukaza Tapera Jani Tavonga Tembakazi Tendani Yaka Thando Thapelo Thingo Thomas Thulani Nhleko Tshepiso Maimela Tshepiso Sekuru Vhahangwele Matodz Violet Chibvura Vivian Vusi Mathibela William B Xavier Yassine Ben Ali Zanele Jeza Zianda Ndlovu Zipho Zwane Steven Marakeng Mpyana Steven Marakeng Mpyana was born on 6th August 1983. He now lives in Mabopane, not far from Pretoria. He came to Children of Fire for advice and help on Wednesday 3rd July 2002 in Johannesburg. At the age of 14 Steven was cooking some chips on an open fire. The fire was in an unfinished building – brick walls and a corrugated iron roof but no windows. He finished cooking and put the hot fish oil on the shelf above his head, to keep it away from younger children who were there. The pot was not put on the shelf properly and fell on him. He ran to the water bucket and put his head in it to cool it. His aunt got a neighbour to drive him to Mametlhake hospital near Hammanskraal, 15 minutes or more drive away. He was admitted on 3rd August 1996 and discharged on 25th September 1996. Steven returned to school. He has continued his studies and is now in tertiary education. However, he remains traumatised by the rejection of his peers and wants more than anything else to look “normal”. Children of Fire believes that over an 18 month period, with two tissue expanders and a healing period inbetween their use, Steven could achieve close to a normal hairline. We requested Garankuwa Hospital to arrange this reconstructive surgery for him. If, and only if, the youth’s mother’s medical aid and the hospital cannot provide such equipment as the tissue expander, the charity said that it would then do so. Each expander costs some R3000 (or more depending on the exchange rate, as they are imported). Observations (Weds July 3rd 2002): Steven has hair on the right side of his head and at the back of his skull, down to the nape of his neck. He has no hair on the top of the head or on the left side. On the left side his ear is fixed (at the top) to the scalp by the burn injury but it would be relatively easy to release that. Tissue expanders could reinstate his hairline. He is missing an eyebrow but has good bone structure so his face is not unpleasant to others, especially when he is wearing a hat. He does also have scarring on his shoulder and arm but was told not to expect improvement there. He seems not to keloid (i.e. not to have dramatic raised scarring) so that also makes him easier to “reconstruct”. His mother has some medical aid. It is not clear what it could cover even after we phoned them. They said that Steven must see a surgeon and that the surgeon must fax a motivation including all the tariff codes needed. In order to see the surgeon, Steven needed a doctor's letter ... but one from Children of Fire sufficed. Steven is booked in for surgery on September 3rd 2002. He knows that it is still a long and difficult path ahead, but his message was simple. He said: 'Thank you for changing my life.' Steven also says that he wants to get involved in preventative work, educating youngsters about the dangers of burns and fire. Background information: Pretoria Academic Hospital treats patients from the Pretoria area. Any patient 14 years and older has to go to outpatients with a doctor’s reference letter. The contact person there is Sarie Duyker Tel: (012) 354 1666 Fax: (012) 329 4589. She suggested that people don't fax as faxes 'get lost'. Garankuwa Hospital outpatients attend on a Monday or a Thursday very early (around 07:00) with a doctor’s reference letter. The contact person is Ereline Snyman (012) 521 4006). The hospital serves the Warmbaths, Pienaars-river, Pietersburg, Hartebeespoort, Mabopane, Soshanguwe, Garankuwa areas. Kalafong Hospital serves the Witbank, Middelburg areas and outpatients are seen on Tuesdays. This material is Copyright © The Dorah Mokoena Charitable Trust and/or Children of Fire , 1998-2024. Distribution or re-transmission of this material, excluding the Schools' Guide, is expressly forbidden without prior permission of the Trust. For further information, email firechildren@icon.co.za About Children of Fire | Contact us | Advertise with us COPYRIGHT © 2024 Children of Fire. All rights reserved. Designed Developed and Maintained by Fyre Interactive