Real life story - Josue

Photo : Jonathan Lestrade/Courtesy of Die Burger newspaper

Josue Martin is an 18-year old from Angola who is currently studying in South Africa. He contracted rheumatic fever when he was three, following a strep throat infection for which he had not received adequate medication. The infection never healed fully, and progressed to rheumatic heart disease. “I am often short of breath, have pain in my lower back and tire very easily. I also get light-headed and have chest pains almost every day.” Since being diagnosed, he takes penicillin regularly, and his doctor also prescribes painkillers to ease the pain in his chest and lower back. “The symptoms have never really gone away fully, because of the delay in the treatment. I am not able to run fast because I tire quickly. My heart beats irregularly and sounds different to other peoples’ hearts because of the damaged valves.” Because Josue was diagnosed too late, he now needs expensive heart surgery. He is trying to lead a normal life with the support of his family, his faith and his positive outlook on life.