Tragedy leads to close friendship

JANA-MARI SMITH

A horrific car accident which landed six-year-old Valentina Tsamases in hospital with serious, life-changing injuries led to a surprising friendship between two families now united in their quest to see Valentina back on her feet again.

For Valentina’s legal guardian, her grandmother Josefina Tsamases, the friendship that began with the Tredoux family after they met about three weeks ago was a blessed and welcoming event.

“When we met for the first time, I had come to visit Valentina and I saw them by her bedside. I could immediately see they cared, and that they were concerned about her. They have stood by me, even after we left and came here again (Katutura State Hospital). They have done so much good. They are kind to Valentina, and to me.”

The Tredoux family, Liese-Mari, her husband Derick and their sons, met Valentina when their youngest son was being treated at the same private hospital to which Valentina was temporarily admitted for emergency surgery, courtesy of the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) fund.

Liese-Mari Tredoux said since the chance meeting, Valentina and Josefina have “stolen our hearts.”

She said she first noticed Valentina, a small, sick girl who was often alone, and began to make enquires, subsequently meeting Josefina and hearing their story.

“They have touched us deeply, and even when Valentina is healthy again, and can go home, I will continue to visit them. I feel that God has put me on this path for a reason,” Liese-Mari said.

A long road ahead

Valentina Tsamases was hit and severely injured when a car crashed into her on Sunday, 27 August at the corner of Otjomuise and Monte Cristo roads, while on her way home from a football game.

At several points during her hospitalisation, doctors feared that her right foot might be amputated.

And yet, specialists who have treated Valentina remain hopeful.

“It is too early to say what the prognosis is at this point, but given that she is young and has great healing potential, she'll pull through,” Dr Sibasthiaan Shituleni, an orthopaedic surgeon, told Namibian Sun.

He explained that Valentina sustained severe injuries, including massive lower limb de-gloving, significant muscle loss and an ankle fracture with multiple bones exposed.

She was referred to him from Katutura Hospital for a limb salvage procedure and underwent “multiple wound debridement and stabilisation of the right ankle fracture / dislocations.”

Doctors applied vacuum-assisted dressings to stimulate granulation and prepare her for reconstructive procedures, and possible grafting, which could mean multiple surgeries ahead.

A close bond

Josefina is Valentina’s legal guardian after her mother passed away “a long time ago.”

She also looks after five other children, who live with her in Havana.

With the help of two of her daughters and government grants, the family gets by, but it is always a struggle, especially since Valentina’s accident, she said.

“When Valentina was in the hospital, I was very worried, especially on the days I could not visit her, because I could not afford the travel costs. But then Liese-Marie and her husband, Derick, began to help with that. They love Valentina, the children, and they love me. They are God’s children,” she told Namibian Sun.

Liese-Mari recounted that she immediately noticed that Josefina was struggling with money to enable her to visit Valentina regularly, especially considering the distance between her home and the two hospitals.

“Taxis are expensive, and every time she wanted to visit, she had to first ensure that someone could look after the other kids, and struggle with the cost of travel.”

Derick Tredoux decided to offer Josefina regular lifts to the hospital, and in addition they began providing her with money to cover travel expenses.

They have also helped the family in many other ways, not only with gifts, but with food, clothing, bedding and more.

Word spreads

After the Tredouxs shared the story of Valentina with family and friends, word spread and donations of toys and other necessities including clothes, food and more, were made one after the other.

Liese-Mari insists that those who can must deliver these gifts personally, “so that they can meet the family.”

When the Tredouxs continued their daily visits to Valentina, after she was transferred back to Katutura State Hospital, they met other mothers and their sick children there with similar needs.

Since then, more donations have been made from far and wide, including South Africa.

Due to the various basic needs of many mothers and their children, nappies, food, bedding and similar donations continue to be made to the ward’s patients and parents where Valentina is currently hospitalised.

“I can only say thank you to all of those people, who have come to visit Valentina, and who have given gifts. She is so grateful, and I am too,” Josefina said.

For Josefina, and the Tredoux family, their hopes and goals are the same: to see Valentina receive top care, so that she can heal and regain the use of her legs.

Enquiries with Namibian Police whether any charges against the driver were made after the accident were not answered by the time of going to print.