A long wait for prosthetic limb for an 8-year-old girl Zingce Mzimela from Mkhankatho location in Libode came to an end, a big thank you to Founder and Managing Director of Ludada & Associates Orthopedic Services (LAOS), Ncedo Ludada, who facilitated everything free of charge to restore the confidence of this young mind. Zingce’s leg would be worth R246000, if it was not that Good Samaritan work shown by Mr Ludada.
Zingce was born with a congenital amputation of her right leg; the knee was one of those faced with limited access to prosthetic limbs. For the last five years, Zingce has been relying on crutches to get around, facing daily challenges that most children of her age do not have to endure. Her journey took a hopeful turn when she was spotted limping with a single crutch by Ludada among her peers during their end of the year school tour in Umtata Airport on 26 September 2023.
Immediately after seeing this irk sight, he consulted her teacher, with the intention to help her with a fitting of prosthetic leg and it was made for her.A decision procedure was successful, and subsequent acute wound care at Bedford was good. However, upon discharge from hospital Ludada approached their private referring wound care specialist Nurse Chuma Adam from The Wound Maestro. The wound healing process was carefully monitored until cleared fit prosthetic fitting by the treating wound care nurse.
Once her wound had healed, the next chapter began: fitting her with a prosthetic leg. Again their partnerships played a crucial role with generous support from the Australian Aid by offering appropriate prosthetic technologies. While the manufacturing team LAOS worked diligently to customize and fit the prosthetic leg ensuring it met her specific needs. The journey didn’t end there; they also requested a physiotherapist at St Barnabas Hospital, Ntlaza to help the child with pre-and post-prosthetic training in order to regain strength, confidence, and independence. This comprehensive approach –medical, technological, and therapeutic ensures that she receives not just a device but a path to a brighter future.
Meanwhile, Ludada extended deepest gratitude to Australian Aid, Dr Nxiweni from Bedford Orthopaedic Hospital, Nurse Adam from The Wound care Maestro, St Barnabas Physiotherapist, the school and her teacher, the family and lastly to LAOS team for pulling it together for the greater good of the societies that made them. Furthermore, Zingce’s aunt Nomfezeko Mquphu was over the moon with the aid they got to restore the dignity of Zingce. “I don’t have words but I think thank you is enough, because we were battling for years trying to get a leg that would help the child,” concluded Nomfezeko.
