702 Caller pledges new wheelchair for boy's 12th birthday

7 June 2019 6:22 PM

702 listener Mohammed from Pretoria, has made the 12th birthday of Thabo from Ivory Park in Tembisa, extra-special.

The Afternoon Drive show with Joanne Joseph had received a plea to help acquire a new wheelchair for Thabo, who has a rare joint condition called arthrogryposis.

He is currently in Grade four and has been using the same wheelchair for eight years.

Its condition has deteriorated, making it difficult for his mother to move her son around.

She has her hands full - Thabo's twin brother, Thabiso, has a hearing difficulty and has to use a hearing aid.

The wheelchair is only using three wheels and the chair is broken.
— Deliwe, Thabo's mother

I carry him on my back to take him to the toilet and when he is going to school.
— Deliwe, Thabo's mother

He can't walk but he speaks properly and can hear.
— Deliwe, Thabo's mother

[Thabo's brother] Thabiso has a hearing problem and he uses a hearing aid. The hospital has provided one for him. The school noticed he has problems and we took him to the hospital.
— Deliwe, Thabo's mother

Mohammed heard Deliwe's plea on the radio and called in with good news.

My company will arrange a wheelchair to be donated to them.
— Mohammed, Caller

Thank you very much, thank you, thank you.
— Deliwe, Thabo's mother

Children with arthrogryposis are born with joints that have limited movement or are stuck in one position (contractures). They may also have thin, weak (atrophied), stiff or missing muscles.

Listen to how it all unfolded below:

Written by: Zanele Zama