“Donate an organ and save a life”

A woman who has been living with a donated kidney for the past decade is urging people to donate organs to save lives.

Ms Humbulani Bulala (47), of Maniini Block K, has been living with a donated kidney from an unknown donor since 16 May, 2002. Her donor came after the death of her elder sister, Vuledzani, who died when she was being operated on to confirm if her kidney could save Humbulani's life.

"I was first diagnosed with kidney failure in 1993. After everything was explained to my family, Vuledzani volunteered to donate her kidney to me. In 1995, she went though some screening process where it was confirmed that I could live with her kidney. But the operation could not be done as the theatre rooms at George Mukhari were being renovated. Unfortunately, when she went back for the screening process again on 16 May 1996, she lost her life. Her death came four days before the whole process could be completed,” she added.

According to Humbulani, Vuledzani's death came as a big shock to the family. "Vuledzani, who owned a private school, was a member of the Limpopo legislature. I even blamed myself for her death. At some stage, I wished God would take my life and return my sister's as I was just a useless person who could not do anything because of my illness," says Humbulani.

Since the death of her sister, Humbulani continued following treatment until she received a kidney from an unknown donor.

Today Humbulani says she is happy that she is living a normal life like others. “I am an active person. I am helping to support my sister's children, now aged 22 and 25. I also have two boys, aged 29 and 24," says Humbulani, who is running her sister's school and also a PR councillor at Vhembe District Municipality.

Humbulani says her illness made her realized that there was a need for the community to be more informed about kidney disease. "Kidney disease is very rare. Few understand it. Most of the time, when one is suffering from kidney disease, people start to associate it with witchcraft or STI-related diseases. This is bad because the disease ends up escalating as it will be wrongly treated or ignored," she added.

She also urges the public to donate organs and blood in order to help others. "I think it is important to donate, because through that donoation, you will be saving other people's lives.”

Date:08 November 2013

By: Ndivhuwo Musetha

Read: 1220