Update
KNYSNA NEWS - After being mauled by dogs on 21 March on his way to visit friends, an 11-year-old boy from Joodsekamp, Knysna is still recovering from his extensive wounds in Cape Town.
Thehano Daman underwent his ninth operation, which involved more skin grafting, at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town on Monday 30 April, and according to his mother Melonie Daman, it was a success.
“He is getting better every day and the physiotherapy is helping him very nicely. He walks with or without crutches at the moment, but mostly with crutches,” says Daman, adding that his doctor's advice is to walk without crutches as often as possible.
Home soon, hopefully
Still distraught but hopeful, Daman says the doctor plans to remove Thehano’s bandages on Friday to check on the condition of his legs, and if it goes well, Thehano should be coming home soon.
“But if it doesn’t meet with the doctor’s approval he will have to stay,” she adds.
For this mother seeing her son walk evokes mixed emotions of hope and sadness.
“It is not a pretty sight for me to see my son struggle like this. To see him walk like this is very difficult – he used to walk normally but because of the dogs he is now disabled. His dancing career has been ended,” she says.
Dancing dreams over
According to Daman, Thehano always wanted to be a dancer. “On the morning of the attack, before he was bitten, he still told me that he wanted to go dance overseas once he finished school. He used to dance like Michael Jackson and Chris Brown – I’m not sure what youngsters call this type of dancing these days,” she says.
Thehano even asked his doctor if he would be able to dance again one day, she says.
“The doctor told him he would have to do something else from now on as he would never be able to dance the same way again.”
After Thehano’s attack, two men on the scene were finally able to rescue him by chasing the dogs off with sticks and a spade. A case of attempted murder against the owner of the two pit bull dogs – which have since been put down by the Knysna Animal Welfare Society (KAWS) – is still being investigated by local police.
Can you help?
While far away from home, Thehano and his mother have certain needs they are unable to fulfil due to financial constraints. If you would like to find out how you can help, contact Melonie on 060 400 9230.
Read previous articles:
- Dog attack: Thehano doing 'very well'
- Dog attack: Boy's weak heart stalls surgery
- Thehano 'struggling' after dog attack
- Dog attack highlights community in fear
- Boy savaged by dogs
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