READ THE UPDATE Abused White WomanWill have Foot Amputated -UPDATE
“Good things come to those who wait… greater things come to those who get off their ass and do anything to make it happen.” – Unknown. Life is never without hope and for Natasha, there will be a happy ending. “The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered there is opportunity for growth.” – Unknown
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Last year I wrote a story about Natasha, a young white woman who was abused from the age of six and lived a pitiful life under the hand of notorious Nigerian drug lords. Her journey is not a pleasant one and when a glimmer of hope did arise it soon faded away leaving Natasha depressed and lost in a world of more abuse.
Since last year I have been trying to locate her mother,
Vesna Van Den Berg, who previously lived in Port Elizabeth and worked for a
company Dunlop Trucks. All to no avail, either the woman does not want to be
found or is untraceable. Right now Natasha
does not have anybody in this overpopulated world to turn to expect my son
Chris and of course me.
This is a really sad story, Natasha is in hospital and will
probably have her foot or leg amputated when the government doctors and
hospitals find the time to do so. I am not disrespecting the public health
services but do have questions regarding the urgency of her case. It all began
on the 6th of June when Natasha injured her foot and probably
contracted blood poison. On Monday, she was seriously in a lot of pain, I
took her to the South Rand Hospital, situated in Johannesburg. From 7 a.m. in the morning until 16h00 we waited to
see a doctor. Natasha was in a lot of pain and could not walk and all my
pleading with the hospital authorities was in vein, there was no urgency and I
was told to wait until a doctor was available. At 16h00 we left the hospital
without seeing a doctor and returned the next day. Yureka, we got to see a
doctor before midday and Natasha were
admitted for further observation and treatment.
Photo 1 – Natasha at the hospital on June 8.
On June 12th,
I went to visit Natasha, who was still
experiencing a lot of pain and remained uncomfortable. I managed to check the
hospital file and noted that she was diagnosed with Cellulitis. Of course, I had no idea what that was and when I got home,
I immediately Googled the diagnoses and although I do not understand all the
medical terms it appeared that Cellulitis can be cured with antibiotics.
So I was pleased that she was in the hospital
and receiving treatment.
Photo 2 – Natasha in hospital on June 12.
While reading the doctor;
report, I was pleased that they had discovered her serious social deformity and
recommended physiological help.
Photo 3 – Doctor’s report
Between June 12 and June 22, I was unable to visit but my
son Chris did manage to get there a few times. Each time he would tell me that she
was still in a lot of pain and that her foot appeared to be worse. I was
surprised and really believed that she would respond to treatment. I phoned the
hospital and was told that Natasha would be transferred to the Johannesburg
General Hospital (renamed Charlotte Maxeke) for treatment under specialists.
Apparently she was supposed to be moved
on June 23rd but because there was a lack of beds, the transfer was
delayed.
Today is June 27th and Natasha is still in the
South Rand Hospital so, on this freezing
day, I decided to visit her and find out exactly what is going on. Natasha is
not a happy child, she is in severe pain and the foot looks terrible. Black and
red swelling all around one of the toes spreading up past the ankle.
Photo 4 – Natasha's
foot
I am totally at a loss for words,
I do not understand why her condition deteriorated into gangrene. Yes, gangrene, I read the hospital reports and it is
confirmed, with a recommendation to amputate her foot. There is a report that mentions another diagnosis on her records,
Osteomyelitis, infection in the bone, so the poor girl will lose her foot.
Photo 5 and 6 – Hospital report
Natasha was supposed to be moved a week ago and receive
treatment under specialists. I spoke to the nursing sister today and she said
it would probably happen on Monday. I am wondering if there is an underlying
cause of the initial blood poisoning in her foot that will effectively
cause her to lose a limb. I am so disturbed by the chain of events and wonder
if there was a lack of urgency from hospital staff in identifying the problem.
Of course, there are many thoughts that
run rampant in my mind and one thought that springs up is the lack of urgency
because she is white, an abused and socially ignorant person.
Photo 7 – Natasha in Hospital today (eating sweeties)
Natasha is unaware of the pending
amputation and I imagine that the doctors have come to the conclusion that she
would not understand the entire procedure, even if the amputation is meant to
save her life. I am hoping the hospital will send social workers or whoever
they have to help her deal with this trauma.
I know that very few people would
offer to help this young girl, everybody is so caught up with their own
problems. Yet, I ask if there is anybody who has compassion and would at
some time visit Natasha in the hospital, and
give her a word of encouragement. Or is there anybody I can contact who would
be willing to help Natasha with the trauma she will be undergoing. Based on her
previous lifestyle and loneliness, I know that people do not want to get involved.
Thank you for taking the time to read this story and I have added links to the previous two article about
Natasha’s past. It would be wonderful if I could find her mother, just saying.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
The story I am about to tell is a real
story and a story close to my heart. In South Africa and all around the world,
people hear the horror stories of abuse, torture, rape, torment, and
misfortune. Reading about the stories is
one way to bring awareness, but when people are involved in making a difference
the whole outlook of horrors changes to gratitude and humbleness.
Natasha was abused at
the age of six by her grandfather. Her parents divorced and her life was barely
comfortable from a young child. At the age of thirteen, Natasha disappeared,
according to her account she was alone in the world with no family and somehow
ended up living with Nigerians. Nigerians who were notorious drug lords.
From the age of
thirteen, without any formal education and no chance of receiving any, she was
given drugs and alcohol and turned into a prostitute. As the years went by, she
was then used as a drug mule for the Drug Lords and traveled to China, Brazil,
London, and some other countries to deliver drugs
and diamonds to contacts overseas. We have heard of stories about these young
women taking drugs from one country to another and being detained to face a
life imprisonment, but Natasha was never caught. One can only assume it was
because of her formal lack of education.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
After writing an
article last week about Natasha and Chris, I honestly believed I would have
some peace. Well, there was no peace; it is like being between heaven and hell
and trying to find a solution to a problem that is a nightmare. The story ended
with a glimmer of hope for Natasha as she finally received some help through a home for destitute and abused people.
