Everyone has a story to tell and that of 20-year-old Qaqamba Cuba from Tsomo, a small town in the Eastern Cape, is so inspiring and worth sharing.
Qaqamba was born with congenital scoliosis – a sideways curvature of the spine. At 6-years-old, Qaqamba was referred by her local doctors to Groote Schuur Hospital. She had spinal surgery and her doctors advised that she remain in Cape Town for regular check-ups and to ensure that should any complications arise; she would have access to specialised medical treatment.
A family meeting was convened with doctors where it was decided that Qaqamba should relocate to Khayelitsha in Cape Town to live with her aunt. Leaving her hometown was very hard for her to accept but she soldiered on.
In 2008, Qaqamba received the news of her mother’s passing – yet another hardship to endure. Her aunt accompanied her to the Eastern Cape to attend the funeral and then they returned to Cape Town. Qaqamba’s family members remain in the Eastern Cape and she is able to visit during the holidays. Despite trials and tribulations, Qaqamba managed to remain focused on her school work and matriculated at Jan Kriel High School in Cape Town.
Upon her return to Cape Town, Qaqamba suddenly fell ill but her resilience and bravery carried her through her most vulnerable moments. “The next time I opened my eyes, I was in the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital,” says Qaqamba.
When Qaqamba regained consciousness, she received the news that she’d need a tracheostomy – a medical procedure that involves creating an opening in the neck in order to place a tube that would allow her to breathe. Due to her scoliosis, Qaqamba’s chest cage was not able to move efficiently for her to breathe and a tracheostomy was performed to attach her to a ventilator (small machine that helps her with every breath).
Qaqamba is part of the Breatheasy Tracheostomy and Ventilation Homecare Programme, which is a nurse-led initiative that equips and trains family members of patients who underwent tracheostomies to treat their children in the comfort of their homes. This initiative is financially supported by the Children’s Hospital Trust which helps purchase critical life-saving equipment for children dependent on essential tracheostomy and home ventilation.
In 2009, Qaqamba was introduced to Dr Gabriel Urgoiti, the manager of RX Radio, by retired nurse and co-founder of the Breatheasy programme, Sr Jane Booth. Dr Urgoiti offered her a role as a radio presenter to assist with her self-confidence, social skills and emotional and mental healing.
RX Radio is a radio station run by and for children, operating from the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and is the first radio station in the world to train young reporters to broadcast from within the hospital.
Aside from being an RX Radio presenter with her own show called ‘Qaqamba’s Inspiration Corner’, which she uses to uplift patients through her story, she is now a second year Law student at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and gets around campus on a shop-rider vehicle.
“They pushed me to apply at a university to ensure a brighter future for myself. They believed in me more than I believed in myself,” says Qaqamba.
When asked what advice Qaqamba has for fellow Breatheasy patients, she said: “The children who come through the hospital doors must never give up. Every opportunity that comes your way, grab it with both hands and appreciate the support you receive at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.”
“Thank you so much to everyone that donates to the Breatheasy programme, we have ventilators and a voice because of your donations,” says Qaqamba.
