Thobeka (pronounced Tho bega---the "K" is a "g" sound here). She is three, soon turning 4 years old.
She is cute, spunky, and smart! And she is hydrocephalic. It appears to date that the damage could be to her motor skills, a little shaky and head wobbles a lot. The head could be due to the fact that it is too large for her body to support. But, she is mobile and walks around.
In our journey together I learned that their 19 year old son was killed in a car accident two or three months ago. He is Ellen's son, but David Romeo was the only father he knew. This has been hard on them....I could identify with this.
Bob was the first to meet Thobeka when he went with a branch member to visit them. When he came home he mentioned Thobeka and the fact she had an unusually large head. One day as I was driving down the street in the township I saw Romeo walking with Thobeka home from the crèche (pre-school). That was the first time I had met her. I prayed about what to do and Romeo happened to come to church a couple of weeks later.
I got my courage up and asked him what they had told him about Thobeka's condition. He said that he took her to a doctor from Zimbabwe who was visiting the local hospital. He gave them some water pills and told them that would make the water go away. He thought it was working.
At this point I discussed my background and what the concerns are about her condition. There would be further complications as she grew older. Her head would get larger, she would probably lose her sight, and eventually it would impact her life expectancy. I asked him if he would be willing to take her for a consultation with a neurologist just to make sure she was doing well. He was very willing but, I could tell nervous about the cost. I told him that we would help with the evaluation and worry about the rest later. (I was nervous because I knew she would have to have a shunt, and thinking of US costs it could be pricey). I am very interested that people here are very naïve regarding medical things. I have found the medical care we have received has been very good and sophisticated, but I have also observed some advice given by some doctors and it is very sketchy--especially in the government hospitals ( however, there also are great doctors there). Many of the clinics in the townships are staffed by nurses and many times they are ill trained.
I called and the soonest appointment I could get was in late July or August. I had Bob call and "the pastor" got an appointment on the same day. Shows the little influence I have.
This doctor gave us an appointment at 6:00 pm. He said to meet him at the private hospital. We picked up Ellen , David, and Thobeka in the township and drove into the hospital. We had to wait a while because he was in surgery. He kept calling and telling us to wait, he would be there. He was doing surgery on a broken back. After a couple of hours he came to the hospital waiting room and got and took us into the physical therapy room. Basically, he told the N'kosis the same things I had told them. He explained the surgery. He told them that her head would not shrink because the bone structure was already solidified, but that the head should stop getting bigger. I really liked this Doctor. He was a young black doctor and a recent graduate. He recommended doing the surgery at the government hospital because he also practiced there and it would be free. (That caused me some concern because I have been there several times). He assured me it would be fine and that generally things are good. (?...scary)
That was on a Wednesday, she was scheduled for a scan on the next Monday and surgery for the next day. The parents had to work on the Monday she went to the hospital, we drove them in then they left to go back to work. We went back about 2:00 pm to check on Tobega and she was pretty sad. When we tried to leave, she would have none of it. So, I sat there for a few hours, then had to leave to go fix dinner. She was terrified so Elder Hunt stayed there with her until 8:00 pm when her parents got there. It was better, the female nurses were tough (onery), there was one male nurse and he was kinda trying, but, when he brought medicine in, she would throw a little tantrum. And it was a good one.
Her parents stayed in town with us for two days for the surgery. They do not say surgery or operating room here it is called theatre. "She will be going into the theatre." Guess it makes people think they are going in to see a movie or something. Anyway, she was scheduled for the theatre the next day. They did not take her in until 3:30 pm and she was not happy because she was hungry. She had the brain surgery and went home at 10:00 am the next day. Guess there is no reason to linger here....I was terrified that it would not go well because of infection or something. But, she has done well and I think her balance has improved.
If you look on the right side of her head in the picture with her little friend you can see the incision. This little friend comes to church alone almost every Sunday, I didn't know she knew the N'Kosis until one of our visits. Ellen's cousin takes care of her. Her mother is an alcoholic and was not caring for her so this cousin took her off the streets. That is so common here. Seems that many people are willing to take care of these little uncared for children. Alcoholism is major problem here for both men and women. Oh, there are so many tales to tell, I could never get finished telling them all.
But, we are very prayerful that this surgery will improve the quality life of little Miss Thobega. Keep her in your prayers. She is a very cute little girl. I will always remember her story. She is one I hope to see again someday.
Gosh, I shudder to think what her fate would have been if you hadn't stepped in. You two are probably answering prayers left and right. What a little angel.
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