This is due to the fact that his right leg is under extreme pressure and Hannes has developed circulation problems in it.<\/p>\n
Hannes\u2019 problems started when he was six-weeks-old.<\/p>
Due to an unfortunate accident while being bathed, his leg was badly broken.<\/p>\n
When his father, Ockert, got home from work later that day, he noticed the leg was blue and his child was crying uncontrollably.<\/p>\n
He immediately rushed Hannes to hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt six-weeks-old I had to be operated on and the problems with my leg started from there,\u201d Hannes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in plaster of paris for the first seven years of my life and in and out of hospital, having numerous operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cDue to the operations, my left leg was about 15cm shorter than the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hannes describes his childhood in Carolina, Mpumalanga, where he grew up, as full of ridicule.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t take part in sport and was teased as I had to wear a special shoe to aid me in walking,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hannes had pins in his leg and in July 2010, his body started to reject what the metal the pins were made of.<\/p>\n
His osteoporosis developed into a chronic bone infection called osteomyelitis.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy leg was basically rotting from the inside,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
He became very ill due to the infection and doctors informed him that, if he did not have the leg amputated, the infection would eventually kill him.<\/p>\n
Hannes\u2019 leg was amputated on November 3, 2010, just above the knee.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, two weeks after the first amputation, the cut became infected because of the staples which were used to close it, and I had to be rushed back to hospital and have the leg re-amputated.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring this operation, they cut away too much bone leaving me with a very short stump,\u201d Hannes said.<\/p>\n
Since 2010, Hannes has been on the waiting list, both at Baragwanath and Tambo Memorial hospitals, for a prosthetic leg, but nothing has materialised so far.<\/p>\n
He recently went to see a prosthetist at the Milpark Hospital and, after a two-hour assessment, was told that because of the pressure on his right leg, he has developed circulation problems and if he does not get a prosthetic leg soon, he runs the risk of having his right foot amputated too.<\/p>\n
Hannes does not have medical aid and is trying to raise funds to afford a prosthetic leg.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe it will cost about R130 000, which will include the physiotherapy needed,\u201d Hannes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to raise funds we will be having a fund-raiser on June 13, at the Barnyard Theatre in Rivonia.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo book tickets, you can email to samantha730709@gmail.com.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hannes is supported by his wife, Samantha, and step-children Gareth (20) and Rachel (10) Holder.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cThe leg will mean the world to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will give me the freedom to walk and drastically improve my mobility.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will basically mean a whole new beginning for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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