14-year-old born without arms or legs gets much-needed surgery
Jacaranda FM's Good Morning Angels and LottoStar assisted 14-year-old Felicity Ncube with a donation of R100,000 towards a much-needed surgery!
Every child has a different "When I Grow Up" dream, but 14-year-old Felicity Ncube has a truly unique one: she wants to be a motivational speaker.
"I want to show others that your body may be different, but your spirit is limitless. If I can fight, you can too," says Felicity with a big, bright smile.
Felicity has quite the story to tell, and she is nothing short of inspirational.
Just a few days after her birth, Felicity arrived at Tshwane Haven, a place of safety for abandoned babies and children with medical needs.
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She was born without arms or legs and was welcomed into her new family with love.
"We raised her like any other child, not shielding her from life, but empowering her to live it fully."
Felicity’s could have been a very sad story, but she is a fighter, grabbing every opportunity and living life to the fullest.
Felicity moves around on her torso or uses a wheelchair when she's outside her home.
This independence means everything to her.
However, she now faces another obstacle: she has developed scoliosis and needs an operation to correct her spine, or risk losing her mobility.
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The doctor and his team will perform the operation and provide treatment at no charge, but approximately R100,000 is still needed to cover theatre, hospital, prosthetic, and other related costs.
That's why Janine de Villiers from Tshwane Haven reached out to Good Morning Angels.
REQUEST FOR: 14-year-old Felicity Ncube
REQUEST FROM: Janine de Villiers, representing Tshwane Haven
ANGEL: Tasoulla Hadjigeorgiou, CEO of LottoStar
SPONSORING: LottoStar will assist Felicity with a donation of R100,000 towards her much-needed surgery!
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Dear Good Morning Angels,
Just a few hours old, Felicity Ncube was abandoned in a hospital room. Born with no arms and no legs due to a rare congenital condition, her family made the heartbreaking decision to walk away. But God wasn’t done writing her story.
A few days later, Felicity arrived at Tshwane Haven, a place of safety and love for abandoned children. From that moment, she became part of a new family, one that saw not her limitations but her light.
Felicity is now 14 years old, and if there’s one word that defines her, it’s fighter.
She faced a world that wasn’t built for her. But instead of shrinking away, she chose to rise, every single day.
“We raised her like any other child, not shielding her from life, but empowering her to live it fully. When she couldn’t reach the sandpit like the other kids, her teacher had a special long-handled spade made just for her so she could dig into the sand like her friends. She beamed that day, and that smile hasn’t left her.”
Felicity has never asked for sympathy, only for opportunity.
Now in Grade 8, she dreams of becoming a motivational speaker, to show others that your body may be different, but your spirit is limitless. She wants to speak at schools, churches, and hospitals, telling others: “If I can fight, you can too.”
But right now, Felicity faces yet another battle.
She has been diagnosed with severe scoliosis, a painful curvature of the spine. Without urgent surgery by December, Felicity may lose what little mobility she has. She currently “hops” with the support of her wheelchair, and this independence means everything to her. If her condition worsens, she may no longer be able to move at all.
Her trusted doctor, Dr. Zondagh, is willing to perform this complex spinal operation free of charge, but the additional costs are far beyond what we can manage as a private place of safety. We receive no government funding and rely solely on the compassion of people like you.
Dr. Zondagh and his team have committed to providing the surgery and physiotherapy at no cost. However, there will still be hospital and theatre charges.
We are appealing to:
- Medical professionals who may be able to assist with pro bono services or equipment
- Businesses or individuals who can sponsor or contribute financially
- Community leaders and volunteers who can help with fundraising
- Anyone who believes that every child deserves a fair chance at life
Felicity should not be worrying about a spinal operation at the age of 14. She should be working on her next speech, laughing with her friends, and dreaming about her future. Let’s take this burden off her tiny shoulders.
She has carried so much, for so long. Let’s carry her now.
Every donation, every idea, every share of this story makes a difference. Let’s rally together and give Felicity the gift of hope, movement, and the future she deserves.
From all of us at Tshwane Haven, thank you for believing in miracles.
Regards,
Janine de Villiers
Marketing & Fundraising Manager
Tune in to 'Good Morning Angels', every Wednesday from 06:00 – 09:00, on 'Breakfast with Martin Bester'. Stream the special feature live here or download our mobile app here.
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Image: Supplied