Visually challenged Journalist in need of urgent assistance
Visually challenged Journalist in need of urgent assistance
January 23, 2024
Saul Utete
Choice News Africa
Bulawayo – Television Presenter for Proudly Able, Ratidzo Muchairi, recently lost her right leg that was amputated from above knee at United Bulawayo Hospital after developing a giant cell tumor of the bone.
Ratidzi is pain and need urgent attention from well-wishers, to foot her bills of the surgery that will include therapy. The operation added more challenges, as she cannot now walk alone, as she used to do previously with her cane.
Choice News Africa Editor, Chrispen Tabvura posing for a photo with Ratidzo recently during a visit at her home in Bulawayo.
According to MediLib,giant cell tumor of bone(GCTB) is a benign locally aggressive tumor frequently treated with intralesional curettage and cementation. It affects young adults between the ages of 20 to 40 years.
Clinical presentation of GCT of the bone states that pain remain the leading symptom relating to the mechanical insufficiency resulting from the bone destruction. A soft tissue mass or bump can occasionally be seen and results from the cortical destruction as well as tumor progression outside bone. Pathology, grossly GCT of bone appears brownish in colour and is usually solid, however some tumors may have a hemorrhagic cystic component.
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia refers benign of a disease, meaning not harmful in effect, a condition, tumor or growth that is not cancerous and that it does not spread to other parts of the body.
Ratidzo said that the condition started in 2019 and she underwent her first operation that also led to complications in walking with support.
“I am a Zimbabwe Television Presenter for Proud Able program that is also found on YouTube and Facebook, though currently suspended because of my health.
I have been having a challenge with my right knee that had developed a giant cell tumor of the bone in 2019 and got operated.
In 2021 a second operation of knee reconstruction was done in June 2021 after the condition had resurfaced. The third operation left me amputated.
Giant cell tumor when inside the bone does not cause cancer but only when it breaks the bone entering the flesh, causes cancer.” said Ratidzo
However, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, benign is a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life especially not becoming cancerous. MediLib also provided GCTB background stating that, giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a benign locally aggressive tumor frequently treated with intralesional, curettage and cementation.
Muchairi said that Doctors got concerned about her deteriorating condition forcing them to amputate the affected leg.
“Doctors were now worried of removing the tumor leaving the leg, for the tumor had consumed my bone to an egg shell thickness. This raised fears of a possible breaking through the bone to the flesh, increasing my chances of getting cancer. We then agreed with Doctors for the right affected leg to be amputated from above knee level.
I promise my viewers, that of course the program has been temporarily suspended because of my health condition. Give me a few weeks, I will be back on television.
The operation was successful though I am no longer going to use my white cane but a wheelchair, which is completely a new world and an experience otherwise as a person with disability.
Experiencing a new feeling that my other colleagues on wheelchairs have been going through, I have since experienced it now unexpectedly.” Concluded Ratidzo