28/10/2026
Mrs Mabaso’s Journey to Recovery: A Testament to Perseverance and Hope
When Mrs Mabaso was admitted to hospital in June 2026, she was critically ill. Suffering from severe dehydration and profuse diarrhoea, she was passing more than 20 loose stools a day. Weighing just 42 kg, she was severely anaemic, hypotensive and so frail that she required inotropic support to maintain her blood pressure.
For her treating physician, Dr Shashika Sewgoolam, the first three days were particularly challenging, as Mrs Mabaso remained critically unstable. Her illness had begun approximately a month before admission, leaving her struggling to retain food and severely compromising her strength. Investigations, including a colonoscopy, revealed severe colitis, and treatment commenced with intravenous antibiotics, corticosteroids and comprehensive supportive care.
Despite initial stabilisation, her recovery was far from straightforward. The diarrhoea persisted for approximately a month during her hospitalisation, requiring intensive nutritional support, including total parenteral nutrition (TPN), intravenous albumin and probiotics. Her care was supported by a dedicated multidisciplinary team, including a dietitian, surgeon Dr Lachmanan and gastroenterologist Dr Jozi.
At her weakest, Mrs Mabaso could not stand, walk or independently mobilise to the bathroom. She was entirely dependent on others for her basic needs. Yet, through sustained medical care, patience and perseverance, she gradually began to regain her strength. First, she progressed to sitting in a chair, then slowly regained her ability to walk.
After six weeks in hospital, Mrs Mabaso was discharged in a stable condition, having gained 8 kg. Her journey, however, continued beyond discharge through monthly follow-up consultations with Dr Sewgoolam.
When Mrs Mabaso returned for a consultation in October 2026, her transformation was remarkable. Having gained a total of 20 kg, she had regained much of her strength, independence and confidence. The patient who had initially been brought to Dr Sewgoolam’s rooms in a wheelchair was now walking independently, dressed smartly and carrying herself with renewed hope.
For Dr Sewgoolam, witnessing this transformation was one of the most rewarding moments of her medical career. It was a powerful reminder that recovery is about more than overcoming illness; it is about restoring dignity, independence and quality of life.
Today, Mrs Mabaso is independent and shares her testimony with others, reflecting her renewed faith in God and in life itself.
Mrs Mabaso’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, compassionate multidisciplinary care and the determination never to give up on a patient. Her story reminds us why we choose medicine: to restore not only health, but also dignity, independence and hope.
