Before she had even turned 18 a PE orphan had undergone two heart operations – but with the help of a benefactor from the UK she triumphed over her adversity and has now written a book published by Pan McMillan.
Miracle Girl tells the story of how a young Xhosa woman from New Brighton, who weathered more in a few years than most will in a lifetime, managed to keep a positive attitude – and inspire others.
In her book, New Brighton teenager Sivosethu Ndubela, 19, talks about the challenges she has faced in her young life.
Sivosethu, fondly known as Vovo, was diagnosed with a rare heart condition and has been through open heart surgery twice.
These challenges have left even professional medical staff perplexed as to how it is that she is still alive, she writes in her account of a life lived on a medical edge.
Vovo decided to write her book with the hope that she would inspire other young people to not let their circumstances stop them from living their lives to the full.
She has written her story in an easy, conversational style to make it easy for even young children to read it.
“I want to reach out to young children and help them realise that you can make it, “she says.
“You must never give up.”
Miracle Girl was launched on Wednesday night at Bargain Books at Walmer Park Shopping Centre.
Vovo co-wrote the book with Tony Pearce, a family friend from the United Kingdom, who later became her legal guardian after the death of her mother when she was 13.
The book was born as a form of therapy while she was fighting her illness.
Following a suggestion by one of her doctors, Vovo started writing her experiences down in a journal as a way to help her cope with the struggles she was facing.
The book shows Vovo’s perspectives of navigating life while dealing with her heart problems.
It also shows how the family dealt with the stress caused by the fear of losing Vovo, as well as learning to live life without their mother and grandmother.
Pearce and his wife Lynn took on the responsibility of being guardians to Vovo and her sisters, Vuyolwethu and Iviwe, immediately after their mother passed away.
Pearce says taking care of Vovo has been a tough journey but her positive attitude towards life makes everything easier.
“She has been through so much and has never given up. She truly is a remarkable young woman. We try to spoil her as much as we can.”
He also workswith a community project called Location Kids, which focuses on showcasing the singing and dancing talents of young children in New Brighton.
Vovo is a keen dancer and often shares the stage with her sister Vuyolwethu, who is an aspiring singer.
Vovo said her decision to share her story through a book was motivated by an encounter she had with a young girl who was suffering from cancer.
She said her positive attitude was something she learnt from her mother and she wears her surgery scars with pride.
“This is my warrior sign. I am proud of it. It reminds me that I am strong and that I can do anything,” she says.
Vovo is in matric at Morningside High school and she wants to become a nurse one day. Read an extract from Miracle Girl
Miracle Girl is available at major bookstores for R95.