Thursday, 10 April
09 Apr
A routine shift underground at a Witbank mine late last year turned into a nightmare for Petros Letsoalo when a heavy metal fell on to his leg just below his right knee, causing multiple fractures. His colleagues acted quickly, bringing him to the surface, and paramedics took him to Netcare Alberton Hospital.
Upon arrival, the 41-year-old was rushed to theatre in a desperate attempt to save his leg. For two weeks, Petros was in and out of surgery, but despite his medical team’s best efforts, the damage was too severe.
His leg had developed a serious infection that had become life-threatening, leaving doctors with no other option but to amputate.
Despite the heartbreak of losing a leg, Petros drew strength from his four-year-old daughter, Koketso. Because she was so young, he felt motivated to get mobile again for her sake. Now, after months of recovery and rehabilitation, he’s fully recovered and walking again with the help of a prosthetic leg.
This is his story.
„It wasn’t easy for me. But the doctors explained that this was the only way to save my life. My youngest daughter is just four years old, and I don’t think she fully knows me yet because she’s still young. That realisation gave me the strength I needed to fight and recover.
I thought to myself I’d rather lose a limb than my life.
I spent three months in the hospital and it was an emotionally challenging time for my family. My wife, Lebo (39), and our children, Kagiso (19), Kutloano (16), Kgothatso (13) and little Koketso, visited me often. However, it was particularly hard for Kutloano because she feared my amputation. We all had to adjust to this new reality and to them seeing me like this.
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Kagiso, being a grown man now, wasn’t afraid of anything. He visited me often, spoke to me and encouraged me, reassuring me that everything would be okay.
After my amputation began to heal, it was time for physiotherapy and I was transferred to Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital in Auckland Park.
There, I received training on using crutches, climbing up and down stairs. The exercises also included preparing my own breakfast in the kitchen, doing laundry and hanging it on the line.
At first, I thought a wheelchair was going to be my new form of mobility but the doctors encouraged me to try a prosthetic leg.
Once fitted with the prosthetic, I returned to Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital in January this year to start training.
It was tough to adjust in the beginning, I used crutches along with the prosthetic because I was worried about falling. But as I continued with physiotherapy, my confidence grew, and I eventually learned to walk on my own.
I even picked up skills like kicking a ball and playing volleyball. Now I can drive my vehicle again and everything feels comfortable and back to normal.
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I’ve learned that life is never guaranteed – it can change in an instant. We don’t know what tomorrow holds for us.
For me, it was just a normal day at work, like any other. I had no idea that day would end with my leg broken underground.
Life is unpredictable, and it can change so suddenly. All we can do is adapt to those changes as they come.“
02 Apr