A glint of light flashes from the playground. Ubuko Mpotulo dusts the grass off his palms while giggling at his failed handstand. Once he catches his breath, the 11-year-old stands on his brand new legs and makes another attempt. Mpotulo’s prosthetic limbs hint at the journey he’s already braved. When it comes to this kid’s tenacity, there’s no limit to how far it will take him.
When he was three years old, doctors diagnosed Mpotulo with meningococcal septicaemia. “It’s a disease that goes to your veins and attacks hands, arms, and legs,” he explains. To stop it from spreading, Mpotulo had both legs and several fingers amputated. He contentedly ran around on stumps until prosthetic company Össur, backed by the donations of thousands of South Africans, offered Mpotulo tailor-made limbs. After he began the process of learning to walk with them, it didn’t take him long to catch up to his peers.
With his new legs, Mpotulo is taking his life to the next level. He enjoys playing soccer, swimming, dancing, and has taken to songwriting. “I can do anything other kids can do,” Mpotulo says. “Sometimes, I do better.” Though his prostheses will require painful adjustments as he grows, Mpotulo is focusing on his aspirations. “The disability hasn’t held me back,” he says. “I love who I am.”
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