A young man, who has been bedridden for the past three years, has made a passionate plea to this paper and its readers to help him overcome a rare skin disease that has left him a shadow of his former self.

“Please help me, before this disease kills me”. This is a sad plea from the once handsome young man, who was once full of life and whose flesh is being eaten by a mysterious skin disease. Maanda Tshithavhana (23) of Maungani-Dzavhavha has been bedridden in a room filled with the stench of rotting human flesh. Conducting the 30-minute interview with him in his room was like a decade, as breathing becomes a big challenge because the atmosphere inside is not bearable.

He made the plea this week, saying Mirror was his only hope of ever recovering after his family had tried everything humanly possible to assist him, but in vain. “You are my last hope and I strongly believe that one of your readers will have pity on me and help me after reading my story,” he said.

The mysterious disease is devouring his legs and hands, leaving the other parts of his body. The disease has changed the once healthy and good-looking Tshithavhana into a shadow of his former self. To add salt to injury, Tshithavhana cannot access specialized medical care as his mother is not working but is just making ends meet through piece jobs.

The way it all started is still a mystery to him and his mother, Ms Elelwani Madzimbalale. “It started as a small pimple on my hand while I was doing my Grade 10 in 2006 and I did not even take it seriously as I thought it would heal up after some time,” he said. The pimple started swelling and becoming painful. It later became a sore which dripped pus; when I scratched it, it multiplied until it was no longer bearable.” He said he went to the local hospital where some tests were done on the wounds and he was hospitalised for six months. “I was always hopeful that one day it would heal as it showed signs of improvement sometimes and became worse again after a few days,” he said. “The six months I stayed at the hospital were like hell to me, but I was relieved when I was discharged and told to report at the local clinic for checkups,” he said.

“My condition has worsened since I was discharged. I cannot walk and this means that I cannot even go out to relieve myself.  I have not moved around the yard for the past three years,” said the sad Maanda. “I never thought that I would one day be confined to a bed for this long. I still have hope that somebody out there is waiting to help, so that I can be the healthy and strong person I used to be,” he said. “I am staying in a small hell while I am still alive. Please help me beat this disease and lead normal life like all my friends,” he said.

Tshithavhana said he was left on his own and he has his mother to thank as she still takes care of him. “I am a total wreck; all my friends have stopped coming to visit me. Who can blame them? It is bad in here as you can see and smell for yourself,” he said with a sad look.

His sad mother, Elelwani Madzimbalale, said her son’s illness had taken her by surprise. “This boy was a healthy and good-looking boy with a promise of a bright future. All his dreams are now crumbling because of the disease,” she said. Madzimbalale said she had done everything she could to secure the best medical care she could afford for her ailing son but all her efforts seem to be hitting a dead end as he is not getting any better. “I consulted all well-known traditional healers in the district, but to no avail. I have lost all my savings with many promises from traditional healers who said he will get healed in no time, but all in vain,” she said.

Madzimbalale said she is now helpless as she has to stay indoors to help her sick son. “What else can I do? I have to be here at home to look after his well-being. I am no longer selling anything. I have dedicated all my time to him as he cannot be alone at all times,” she said. She is making an appeal to all kindhearted South Africans to contribute in any form to the well-being of her son. “I would be very glad if any specialist could come to my aid and help my son to recover fully,” she said.