Young Student Fights Killer Disease While Pursuing Her Dream Qualification
- A brave student is eager to complete her first tertiary qualification despite fighting a killer disease
- While looking for a donor, Nekhumbe currently survives through dialysis, which keeps her going
- She told Briefly News that although her condition sometimes makes it difficult for her to study or even attend classes, she will never give up her dream of attaining a Public Administration qualification
Despite facing a life-threatening disease at a very young age, Thalukanyo Nekhumbe, 24 years old, is determined to complete her tertiary qualification. The young student was diagnosed with a critical kidney failure when she was only twenty-three. She now has to juggle her school work with her essential daily treatment.
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Nekhumbe, who hails from the little village known as Phaphazela, which is situated outside of Malamulele, told Briefly News that she was shocked when she was diagnosed with stage five kidney failure in July last year. She has been managing the condition for more than one year now.
How it all started
The soft-spoken Nekhumbe said that when she first experienced shortness of breath, tiredness, weight loss, poor appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increased need to urinate, particularly at night, she never suspected that she could be diagnosed with kidney failure.
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Until today, Nekhumbe does not know what could have triggered her to have a kidney failure, as even her family does not have a history of kidney failure.
“To be honest, I never suspected or knew that a young girl as healthy as I was could be diagnosed with a kidney disease. I used to think that only the old and fragile could be diagnosed with such a condition. I was shocked and devastated when I was informed that I have a stage five kidney failure,” said Nekhumbe.
Her dreams
Nekhumbe, who is currently doing her final year of Public Administration qualification at Tshwane University of Technology (Soshanguve campus), was diagnosed with kidney failure at Tshwane District Hospital soon after becoming critically ill.
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“I am so young and still eager to achieve many things in life, but this condition, which I am currently faced with, is making everything difficult. It is so difficult to juggle school work and kidney treatment,” said Nekhumbe.
She told Briefly News that she is currently surviving through daily dialysis known as Peritoneal Dialysis (PD). This is a home-based treatment for kidney failure that uses the patient’s own abdominal lining as a filter to remove waste and excess fluid from the blood. Nekhumbe performs this process about four times a day.
The World Health Organisation views dialysis as a vital, but often unaffordable, life-sustaining treatment for kidney failure that requires improved global access.
Difficulties she endures
“I won’t lie, this process takes a lot of my time, and it is exhausting and bear in mind I am currently staying alone at the campus student residence, and I still have to cook, do laundry and other household chores and on top of that, I still need to write my assignments. It is a lot, but I will not give up now,” said Nekhumbe.
Despite everything which she is going through in her young life, Nekhumbe told Briefly News that every day she prays that God gives her the strength to complete her qualification this year.
“I just wish and hope that things do not get worse this year, as I am only left with a few modules to complete my qualification this academic year. I love school with all my heart, and getting that qualification will mean the world to me and my family. I just wish and hope that I do not get worse or hospitalised anytime soon,” she said.
Nekhumbe told Briefly News that doctors have already informed her that only a kidney transplant can spare her life, but so far, she has not been able to find a donor match within her family.
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She is currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant with thousands of other South Africans. According to Organ Donation South Africa, around 4,300 to 4,700 people in the country are waiting for a life-saving organ or cornea transplant.
“I am currently desperate for a matching donor. A person who will be willing to help me save my life, but at the moment, it is proving so hard to find such a person. If anyone is willing to get tested and be my donor, please do not be afraid to contact me, as I am desperate for help,” said Nekhumbe.
Although she is currently funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Nekhumbe told Briefly News that she is also struggling financially, as she sometimes has to use her stipend to cover her treatment costs.
“I now have to watch what I eat, I also need to purchase some of the medication which I use to stay healthy but the funds I receive from NSFAS are not enough and my family is also struggling hence my only remaining hope is to complete my qualification, maybe I will be able to find a job and be able to pay for my medication,” said Nekhumbe.
Should anyone want to reach out to Nekhumbe, contact Briefly News for more details.
3 More stories about people pursuing their studies
- Briefly News previously reported that a former security guard has graduated with a visual arts qualification from Tswane University of Technology (TUT), a story that has inspired many social media users.
- A young South African graduate shared her story of life after finishing school and obtaining a Bachelor in Education degree.
- A hard-working gent graduated in the medical field after studying for seven years, and Mzansi gave him a massive shout out.
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Source: Briefly News
