Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Leonard Ncube , [email protected]
AFTER losing a hand and a leg to diabetes-related complications, 50-year-old Ms Tandosi Banda thought all hope was lost.
But this festive season brought joy when she received a wheelchair from Our Pride Amputee Helping Amputees, a local organisation founded by Victoria Falls-based amputee Mr Pride Mafira and his father, Mr Fredrick Mafira.
Ms Banda’s journey has been marked by immense physical and emotional pain. She lost her hand in August 2022 and her leg in November last year due to diabetic ulcers caused by sugar diabetes. However, the kindness of the Mafiras has given her a new lease of life.
Our Pride Amputee Helping Amputees initially provided Ms Banda with an artificial hand, restoring some independence. Recently, they donated a wheelchair, empowering her to regain mobility and freedom.
Overcome with emotion, Ms Banda expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the gesture, saying: “I am grateful for the wheelchair. I was struggling to walk or movie around, and this device has come as a saviour. I am thankful to the people who donated it to me.”
Her daughter, Ms Christabel Ncube, also shared her emotions.
“As her daughter, seeing her face light up with a smile when she received the wheelchair was truly priceless. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. The wheelchair will greatly improve her mobility and quality of life.”
Mr Pride Mafira, the founder of Our Pride Amputee Helping Amputees, explained the organisation’s mission to enhance lives through mobility.
“We believe everyone deserves the freedom to move and participate fully in life’s activities. When we received a call from Christabel about her mother’s condition, we arranged transport for her to return home from Zambia where she had gone for treatment.
“Upon her arrival, we donated the wheelchair to ensure she could fulfil her medical appointments with ease,” he said.
The organisation also extended its generosity to 91-year-old Gogo Pauline Banda, who had relied on a walking stick for many years.
Taking into account her advanced age and mobility challenges, they donated a wheelchair to her as well.
“We are thrilled to have brought a smile to Gogo Pauline Banda’s face this Christmas. After years of using a walking stick, she now has a more supportive mobility solution. We advised her to occasionally push the wheelchair herself to promote physical activity and physiotherapy,” added Mr Pride Mafira.
For Gogo Banda, the wheelchair brought new-found freedom as she managed to join her family for a Christmas Day celebration, moving around with ease and confidence. – @ncubeleon
daniel chigunwe
