ACTRESS Phumeza Mdabe’s son, Mpilo, is set to receive a new set of prosthetic eyes.
The seven-year-old was diagnosed with eye cancer, which led to the removal of his eyes. Over the weekend, Phumeza announced on Twitter that the first consultation is on Thursday, 29 April.
“Mpilo is getting new prosthetic eyes fitted soon. He screamed and said I’m gonna see like everyone else. I had to explain that he’ll never have vision again while a lump sat in my throat and trying my best for him not to hear me crying. This journey isn’t easy at all,” she wrote.
Phumeza told Daily Sun she sat Mpilo down and explained things after she saw his reaction.
“He was hurt that he was not getting his eyesight back. I was also hurting but couldn’t allow him to be happy for nothing. But he understood after a few days.”
The TV presenter said Mpilo is still too young to understand and digest everything happening around him.
“He still doesn’t understand why he can’t see. What makes things worse is that his friends keep reminding him that he’ll never see again and such statements hurt him.
“I know they don’t mean to hurt him, but children will always be brutally honest.
“Whenever he comes back with such statements, we constantly assure him he’s special,” said Phumeza.
“It’s been a difficult journey for all of us, but we’ve learned to adapt. What’s more important is that he has adapted to his condition. In fact, we’ve come to realise his senses are extraordinarily sharp. For example, he can sense things that we can’t sense and can see where we cannot ordinarily see.”
Phumeza said on top of the emotional support, they also needed money.
“For example each and every year he has to change his prosthetic eyes and a set of eyes costs about R50 000,” she said.
Fortunately, they got a sponsor this year.
According to Phumeza, Mpilo has not started school.
“For now we feel he’s not physically and emotionally ready to start school. Ideally, we need him to attend a school not far from our house so that we can easily drop and pick him up. Unfortunately, such a school is in Tshwane and that means we must relocate,” she said.
In support of other children with special needs, Phumeza revealed they planned to start a foundation.
“The ground work is already done, but it’s not operational yet. This foundation will educate and help kids with special needs.
“It will mainly visit townships and rural areas.”
