A desperate five-year-old boy’s life has turned into even more suffering, because he has developed an unusual lump under his right eye. He has also developed a lizard skin and other smaller and painful lumps have appeared on his head and face, making his life even more miserable.

The wounds in his mouth also make his life difficult as he has to struggle to eat food. There are clots of blood in his eyes and the condition is also affecting his eyesight. He keeps producing a huge amount of saliva from his mouth and this makes his life more miserable. The big lump on his right eye has burst and it keeps on producing liquid substances. At his young age, the boy has tasted a life of suffering and misery while his peers continue to enjoy games.

This is the touching story of Hulisani Ndou of Vhutalu-Malumule village, north of Thohoyandou.

His unemployed and desperate mother, Suzan Ndou (36), said she had spent her last cent, hoping that her son would be cured, but nothing has happened so far. “I have consulted doctors, traditional healers, men of the cloth, prophets and herbalists, but my boy’s misery continues on a daily basis. The boy has never known peaceful sleep because he is always in pain. I don’t even have money to consult a specialist because of my family’s poor financial background. What wrong has he done to deserve all this misfortune? I only want him to be cured and enjoy the precious gift of life like other kids.”

During our interview, the little boy kept complaining about the pain, especially in the big lump on his eye and the wound in his mouth. He kept screaming: “Mma kha vha nkwete ndi khou pfa u vhavha wee! (Mom, please, scratch me because I am feeling the pain!).”

Ms Ndou says the trouble started when her son was three years old. “He just started scratching his right eye and I did not take it seriously. A small pimple then developed which became bigger and bigger as time went by. He then developed a lizard skin and other pimples started developing on his head and face.” She said she is afraid that the child’s condition will grow and his face will be disfigured and she might end up losing him. “I’m afraid that if he does not get assistance now, he will die because his pain is growing stronger on a daily basis. The boy needs special care and I no longer have time to move around as I must always take care of him. Other boys of his age are scared of him and this makes him feel withdrawn and unwelcome.”

She says doctors could not explain what is actually happening to her son. “They once supplied medication which seemed to make the condition worse. Although he has suffered so much, due to his condition, I still believe there are people out there who can make a difference in the life of my child.”

She further said that the R190 child support grant she receives from the government is a drop in the ocean since the boy needs special attention. “I appeal to the government and members of the community to assist me so that my son can become normal again and enjoy life like others.”

Community members who would like to assist Ms Ndou and her son can visit them at Vhutalu village, west of Khubvi, near Masindi Tuck-shop, or alternatively call 072 215 2914 or 072 351 0164.