NEAD Community Development NPC Beneficiary story

Tell us a story - a person you helped - that keeps you going...

NEAD has made impact in so many people’s lives over the years that it is difficult to choose one story over another but one that stands out for us is how we could help Nazeerah Moosa achieve her learner license through our project “Free Empowerment Learner License Project for Females”.

Nazeerah’s personal story touched us deeply because she has been suffering so much on a personal level that she never even thought it possible to achieve something as ordinary as her learner license.

Her son Zakariyah was born with a severe case of HS (hereditary spherocytosis) and multiple protein defects with his red cell membrane. He had to get a blood transfusion every 2-3 weeks. Now 9 years later, he is 8 years post bone marrow transplant survivor. He was only 18 months old and the second youngest to have a bone marrow transplant at that tender age. With so little knowledge about what was really laying ahead of the parents, the picture the medical world painted and the reality was far different. As parents they only wanted what's best for their sick child – his health! They had to make tough decisions and a transplant was done from which the young boy developed acute graft and chronic graft disease (donor rejection) in his colon thrice in one year which was extremely difficult to treat. Nothing stayed in his body and he was tube fed for months. He lost the ability to walk, then sit and eventually he was just laying down. Hospital was the family’s second home. With her son facing death, Nazeerah just hoped and prayed.

As time went by her prayers were answered as Zakariyah started to recover miraculously and slowly. His eldest brother Muzzammil was his hero as he turned out to be the successful bone marrow donor. As if this was not enough pain and heartache for Nazeerah, four years ago her daughter Mumtaaz was born. While Nazeerah was in recovery, the baby was in Antenatal ICU and she only learned later that her heart almost stopped beating. An exchange blood transfusion was done and she was monitored. Tests and test, blood transfusions continued.

As 3 months went by Nazeerah developed postnatal depression. She was at her lowest point ever. It was so hard to accept another child had a blood condition. Months went by and she started accepting and putting trust in her Almighty, believing that her journey was chosen for her to continue.

Currently Mumtaaz is being hyper transfused every 4 weeks to boost growth and weight. Even without her transfusions she cannot continue for long, it is a life and death matter. Mumtaaz is on the waiting list for an operation - removal of the spleen. Hopefully it won't require any transfusions but it doesn't mean she is cured, there is no cure, it’s just to make her life a little bit better but she will be on penicillin for life preventing infections.

In Nazeerah’s own words: “I always wanted my driver’s license but due to all this drama and journey in my life, the obstacle etc tells another story. Then I came across this page NEAD community learners licence project. I signed up for it and went back the 2nd time, again and again. Joanie you are an inspiration, motivator and everyone's rock even when I felt down and read your "word of encouragement" I get up, get dressed and make sure "I stiek uit"!