inspiring STORY
lifestyle
THE
of East London dreamer Unakho Ntshintishi
U
nakho Asonge Ntshintshi, born on the 29th of November 2004, was born with complex cyanotic heart defects that are not correctable: Transposition of the great arteries TGA with DORV, both arteries coming from the right side of the heart, CoA – coarctation of the aorta, PS – pulmonary stenosis, large VSD – ventricular septal defect as well as hypertrophy of the right ventricle. Coarctation of the aorta was corrected and banding of the one artery was done six weeks post-delivery. In November 2005 Glenn Shunt was inserted. Doctors gave Unakho three years to live. To date she has had four open heart palliative surgeries to trim the muscle on the right ventricle, and both ventricles have hypertrophied. She is now 15 years old and has surpassed the doctors’ life expectation by 12 years. In 2015 Unakho received her dream to own her own bicycle; something that she never thought she would be able to own, let alone ever ride. Reach For A Dream made this dream day come true by inviting her and her friend to Beacon Bay to share a day filled with riding bikes, playing games and enjoying delicious pink cupcakes. It’s something that Unakho hasn’t forgotten to this day!
Hello Joburg • February 2020 • www.hellojoburg.co.za
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