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SUFFERING: Goodwill Ramothata, 21, of Alexandra, with his father at Charlotte Maxeke . He has a rare condition for which there is no cure. PHOTO: LERATO MOEKETSE

PROCEEDING WITH CAUTION: Head of plastic surgery Dr Elias Ndobe readmitted Goodwill to hospital.

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Goodwill Ramothata, 21, has been readmitted to the hospital after he was admitted there earlier but sent home without any treatment or promise of an operation.

Ramothata suffers from Xeroderma pigmentosum, or XP. This is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that compromises his system's ability to repair damage caused by ultraviolet light.

After Sowetan ran a story about his predicament last month, doctors at the hospital examined him on April 3 but could not help as any operation was deemed too risky. He was sent back home two days later.

Barney Selebano, chief executive officer of Charlotte Maxeke, said: "When we said there was nothing we could do for Goodwill we did not mean he should go home and die. We simply meant, clinically, there was nothing that could be done."

As a result of the condition, Ramothata's skin on his head is so corroded that his skull is exposed. He has been in and out of hospital all his life and constantly has to wear a towel around his head.

Earlier this year, doctors at the hospital told him to go home because they could not help him anymore.

Though doctors cannot treat his condition, he was readmitted on April 25 and it is unclear how long he will remain in hospital.

Dr Elias Ndobe, head of plastic surgery at the hospital, said his condition needed to be constantly monitored.

"I was surprised to learn about this case. I was not made aware of Goodwill. Maybe he was seen by a junior doctor who did not consult the seniors.

"His condition needs to be monitored as he is too weak to be sent home."

Ndobe said Ramothata needed to be at the hospital as he was prone to skin cancer.

Ramothata, who thought he would finally be cured, said: "I am tired of always going to the hospital to be operated on.

"For how long will I live this kind of life?"

His family hoped he would be operated on to remove a tumour on his right cheek, but Ndobe cautioned against major surgery until tests had been done. - lerato@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 21:14:09 SAST 2013 ::

May 4, 2012

Shirmy

If they are baffled then they shouldn't be shy to outsource.
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May 4, 2012

MommaC

Misleading headline.
They know what the problem is, they just have no way to treat it. Maybe the doctors should be in contact with the other facilities around the world to see if they can get him into one of the trial studies.
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May 4, 2012

Ann

shame man, poor boy..
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May 4, 2012

JajazQueen

Not all disease can be cured.

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May 4, 2012

Socrates

And this is why some of us advocate Euthanasia
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May 4, 2012

Idohl

Never loose hope my man. God is good all the time. May the doctors have the wisdom to cure you! In the meantime just try to find happinesss and appreciate the little things in life. Lord have mercy.
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May 4, 2012

Magwabane

If he was to be reffered to specialists in the US they would at least offer him options, some may be dangerous but that will be his call to make.Yes it can not be cured however if he is not well or is weak he should be nursed yes he can't be cured but he should be treated and they should do all in their power to save his life.Act 108 (SA constitution) guarantees the right to life, thus the government should do everything in their power to ensure that right is witheld
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May 4, 2012

Tabza325is

@JajazQueen, Look up Dr Sebi, he sounds like a crazy man when explaining the human Biology, he believes healing should start from an Atomic level before reaching the cellular level which you can address on a chemical level, he claims to have cures for many human illness. I've watched most of his documentaries explaining how the human DNA because of being made of molecules which have electrons structure around them how cell regeneration can be promoted by replenishing the electronic structure of our DNA molecular structure, some of his crazy dialogs are how they is no trace of a substance or compound called melanin in our DNA structure and that because our DNA dictates who we are, the colour of your eyes, your skin tone and complexion, your gender etc... molecular DNA structure is what determines our skin colour based on the Carbon composition within this DNA structure, he states that because our cells are covered by the mucus membrane alkaline food is what promote and protects the cell mucus membrane thus promoting cell regeneration and that acidic food is what causes cell degeneration. Look Dr Sebi up he is a crazy old dude but makes fascinating argument on why western medicine has fail to cure many diseases.
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May 4, 2012

G-force

Is this not and or similar to Michael Jackson’s disease?
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May 4, 2012

WordofGod

@Idohl
Never loose hope my man. God is good all the time. May the doctors have the wisdom to cure you! In the meantime just try to find happinesss and appreciate the little things in life. Lord have mercy
*********************
i agree
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