Pretty lives in Buhle Park with Thomas, her two other children, Senzelumusa (11) and Mbaly (3), and her cousin, Thobeka Mzobe.<\/p>\n
As a temporary worker at the Primrose Police Station, where she cooks the food for the prisoners, Pretty does not have the means to provide Thomas with everything he needs.<\/p>
She is seeking full-time employment, but at the moment is surviving on her temporary work money.<\/p>\n \u201cThomas was born at Bertha Gxowa Hospital with part of his brain outside his skull,\u201d Pretty said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was transferred to another hospital and operated on.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he was three years old he started to have epileptic fits and after that, he couldn\u2019t walk or talk.\u201d<\/p>\n It has been a struggle for Pretty to care for him and he was at first living in KwaZulu-Natal while she sought work in Gauteng.<\/p>\n However, when his granny died there was no one to care for him anymore and he came to stay with his mother, as did his siblings and Pretty\u2019s cousin.<\/p>\n Thobeka takes care of Thomas during the day when Pretty is at work.<\/p>\n Thomas\u2019s problems grew larger when he had to undergo an operation in November, last year, to stretch the cartilage in his arms and legs.<\/p>\n His mother added that he suffers from a lack of calcium and his bones and cartilage did not develop properly.<\/p>\n \u201cHe underwent the operation at a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal and they stretched his cartilage and removed his femur bones completely,\u201d Pretty said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is now recovering but it is difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cHe sometimes screams when you touch him.\u201d<\/p>\n Pretty told the GCN that when Thomas heals she wants to find a home for him where he will receive specialised care.<\/p>\n \u201cI have approached some places, but so far I haven\u2019t had any luck,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe loves to laugh and smile and I just want the best for him.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/02\/07GCNGENERALTHOM_14682-520x390.jpg\")