A 12-year-old boy’s commitment to one day become a neurosurgeon following the death of his father from brain damage suffered in a car accident was realised during this year’s UKZN’s Spring Graduation ceremony.
Dr Muziwakhe Khumalo, who graduated as a Master of Neurosurgery, told of how his critically injured father died because there had been no neurosurgeons in the area to attend to him. ‘I made a vow there and then at my young age that I would become a neurosurgeon one day and perhaps be able to save lives of accident victims under similar tragic circumstances as may father’s.
‘Obtaining my master’s is undoubtedly one of my greatest achievements. It was long and a tough road but the amount of happiness it has brought me, is immeasurable,’ said Khumalo.
His study highlighted an under-researched area of penetrating traumatic brain injury in the elderly. ‘The study improves our understanding of the clinical outcomes and predictors of mortality, paving the way for better-targeted interventions in this vulnerable population,’ said UKZN’s Head of Neurosurgery, Dr Basil Enicker, who co-supervised the study with colleague, Dr Sonwabile Gonya.
Khumalo presented his study at the 18th Word Congress of Neurosurgery. Enicker commended his hard work and attention to detail, adding that his work has always been impeccable – ‘important qualities if one is to be successful in neurosurgery,’ he said.
Khumalo says he has recently opened his own practice in Durban.
Words: Lunga Memela
Photograph: Supplied