Losing your heart - Aug 31, 2008

A little girl has ambushed my emotions and stolen my heart.

Five-year-old Zama, the daughter of a cleaner from the Free State town of Vrede, came into my life unexpectedly this past week and has taught me so much about myself.

I’d driven Braam and David more than 600km to the Madzikane ka-Zulu Memorial Hospital in Mt Frere, in the former Transkei homeland, to meet with children due to undergo facial operations – but had done so with mixed feelings. I couldn’t bear to look at photographs of similar children before their ops, and wasn’t sure I really wanted to be around little people with such dreadful disfigurements.

On arrival I’d volunteered my services and that of my Miles for Smiles team Toyota Fortuner, so it was no surprise when I was asked to respond to a distress call. Little Zama and her mum, Nompumelelo ‘Mpumi’ Makhubo, were stranded at the roadside after the bus they were travelling in had caught fire.

David accompanied me and after a series of telephone calls (thank goodness for cellphones) we located each other and were greeted by grateful hugs.

Despite her disfigurement, Zama’s personality immediately shone through. By nature she is friendly and outgoing, although some days she’s begged not to go to pre-school because the other children laughed and mocked her.

Over the next couple of days in the build-up to the operation, which reconstructed her mouth and nose, we saw her often and were awed by her sunny personality. Once I stepped into the corridor and she came from nowhere, rushing towards me and leaping into my arms. I hugged this little bundle of joy and wondered how anybody could have ostracised her for her looks. Her inner light shines so brightly!

We were with her as she was wheeled into the theatre and for the first time she looked frightened although child psychologists had played with her beforehand and tried to prepare her, even playing with the anaesthesia mask she’d have to breathe through to put her under.

Normally I’m rather squeamish and didn’t think I’d be capable of watching the surgeons at work on her, but in the end I did, trying to send her positive loving energy. It also gave me time to appreciate the ‘dream team’ of medical professionals that surrounded her, working tirelessly and skilfully to change another young life. They are a remarkable group of volunteers from throughout South Africa and around the world.

Sadly we couldn’t be there to welcome her after the op, but we’re told she has been helping all the other children, covering them and making sure they’re snug beneath blankets.

She really is an angel and we’re all richer for having met her.

If you’d like to help children like her, online donations can be made on the Operation Smile SA website where the runners’ daily progress can also be charted. Visit www.milesforsmiles.co.za and www.toyota.co.za