Help Give Khulekani a New Arm
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Several years ago, while filming a documentary in rural South Africa, I met an extraordinary person named Khulekani Mthembu. He was the first person to sign up for an unlikely basketball program being created by a visiting American teacher named Ken Mukai (the subject of my documentary). Khulekani was intensely shy when I first met him but quickly grew into a confident leader and captain of the team. His athletic skills and his work ethic were surpassed only by his humility and kindness. Khulekani became the star of my film. On a recent visit to South Africa, we had lunch and he insisted on saving some of his meal to give to a colleague at work, echoing a lesson taught to him by teacher Ken so many year ago: the most important thing is to have a beautiful heart.
I was horrified to learn recently that Khulekani was attacked on his way home from work and his arm was nearly sliced off with a machete. Several weeks and two surgeries later, his arm has been amputated above the elbow.
Khulekani comes from one of the most rural and impoverished parts of South Africa. Though he has made great strides in improving his lot in life -- finishing high school, getting a job, moving to the city of Durban -- the loss of his arm will make it extremely difficult for him to earn a living for the rest of his life. He does not have the means to pay for a prosthetic arm or the ongoing care it would require.
Prosthetics specialists at the Rehab Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University have helped identify a suitable plan for Khulekani's treatment and we have found a skilled prosthetist who is willing to fit Khulekani with a prosthetic arm free of charge, but we still need funds to purchase the prosthetic and pay for its upkeep.
Please consider donating the funds needed to provide a new arm for Khulekani -- a gift that can help him maintain his independence and productivity for a lifetime.
My name is Kristin Pichaske and I live in Chicago, where I am a college professor and documentary maker. I will post ongoing progress reports on this site so that you can follow Khulekani's progress. I also hope to visit him in South Africa after his prosthetic is in place and shoot some video to post here.
I was horrified to learn recently that Khulekani was attacked on his way home from work and his arm was nearly sliced off with a machete. Several weeks and two surgeries later, his arm has been amputated above the elbow.
Khulekani comes from one of the most rural and impoverished parts of South Africa. Though he has made great strides in improving his lot in life -- finishing high school, getting a job, moving to the city of Durban -- the loss of his arm will make it extremely difficult for him to earn a living for the rest of his life. He does not have the means to pay for a prosthetic arm or the ongoing care it would require.
Prosthetics specialists at the Rehab Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University have helped identify a suitable plan for Khulekani's treatment and we have found a skilled prosthetist who is willing to fit Khulekani with a prosthetic arm free of charge, but we still need funds to purchase the prosthetic and pay for its upkeep.
Please consider donating the funds needed to provide a new arm for Khulekani -- a gift that can help him maintain his independence and productivity for a lifetime.
My name is Kristin Pichaske and I live in Chicago, where I am a college professor and documentary maker. I will post ongoing progress reports on this site so that you can follow Khulekani's progress. I also hope to visit him in South Africa after his prosthetic is in place and shoot some video to post here.
Organizer
Kristin Pichaske
Organizer
Chicago, IL
