?Early one Sunday morning in 2024, 26-year-old Leka Mhlophe, a Master's student at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU), woke up to do her laundry, as she usually does. But this Sunday morning would be different.
Just as she came back from putting her clothes in the washing machine, Mhlophe fainted. Fortunately, the security guard at her residence saw what happened and quickly alerted her housemother (residential head) Thuli. By getting her to the hospital in time, they likely saved her life.
“God bless them both, I owe my life to their combined effort," says Mhlophe, who obtained her Master's degree in molecular biology at SU's March graduation on Tuesday (25 March 2025). She completed her studies while battling pulmonary emboli, a life-threatening condition that happens when blood clots block a blood vessel in the lungs. This can make it hard to breathe and reduce oxygen in the body.
Mhlophe, who hails from Pietermaritzburg, says she was very anxious when the doctor told her she would have to stay in hospital.
“I just started the second year of my Master's degree and hadn't fleshed out the rest of my thesis. And I was still struggling to come to terms with how dire my situation was.
“To make matters worse, my whole family is in KwaZulu-Natal, and I was very stressed about having to go through something like this without them. I was worried that I was going to be alone. The illness disrupted my momentum, both academically and otherwise, and I had to deal with the consequences.
“Emotionally, I was confronted with my own mortality. I hadn't always thought much about life and how quickly it could end. The fact that mine could have ended on a random Sunday morning was sobering."
Getting better was a case of two steps forward, one step back for Mhlophe.
“It was frustrating. I was always tired. I had to go get my blood drawn every week and have a check-up every other week to ensure my heart and lungs were healing well. I'd achieve a new milestone—like walking somewhere without stopping during a physio session or increasing my lung capacity—only to then catch a cold or the flu and end up back at square one."
Support
Despite her health struggles, Mhlophe soldiered on, determined to finish her Master's degree and reassured by the support of family and friends.
“I had my friends, so it wasn't too bad in the hospital. I really felt renewed affection for my friends and family and those around me who were checking in on me. It's not every day you get to see in real time the village in your life come together. The outpouring of love from everyone made me realise I must see this through."
Mhlophe fondly remembers the visits by her friends Monique, Jessie, Megan, Stacey, Rachiel and Tanya.
“I still have Unicorn (a unicorn Pegasus plush from Monique) and Owlette (a mini owl plush from Megan) that are poignant reminders of that time. Of my people inspiring me to try my best every day. When I left the hospital, Monique made sure I wouldn't have to move around too much initially by taking me shopping for ready-made meals, I'm so lucky to have her."
She is also grateful to her supervisors, Prof Michele Miller, Dr Wynand Goosen and Dr Giovanni Ghielmetti who were supportive of whatever progress she made during that time.
Although she had this support, doubt sometimes crept in, Mhlophe says.
“After the first month at home, and halfway into the second month, I was very doubtful. However, I tried not to dwell it too much. I tried not to get nervous about my studies.
“I accepted that I would probably have to apply for an extension and withdraw my intention to submit. Fortunately, my supervisors weren't overly concerned, so I focused on preparing my drafts and improving my writing. I also kept them informed of any developments to ensure they were aware in case I needed to reschedule the submission."
Research
For her Master's degree, Mhlophe collected mouth and nasal fluids of African buffaloes to detect mycobacteria (a type of bacteria that can cause diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy) in a group of these animals. She used this method because infection takes place through the nose and mouth.
Mhlophe says this group of buffaloes had been exposed to tuberculosis (TB) bacteria even though they came from areas where no TB had been recorded. “We were able to find that just under half of the animals in the study had TB bacterial DNA in their noses and mouths. It was an exciting discovery. We had been able to demonstrate the usefulness of the methodology for screening purposes, which ties into how early detection is key in effective disease management in animals."
Simple joys
Looking back, Mhlophe says her experience with a life-threatening illness changed her as a person and her outlook on life.
“Even though I gained a new appreciation for life, I realised that I was taking it too seriously. Because life is short, I now embrace the simple joys—lingering hugs, sending memes, taking breaks, and giving back to causes I care about.
“I may have reduced lung capacity and not be able to do as much as I would like, but I still show up for my goals every day, in whatever way I can. I'm no longer limiting myself."
Asked about her message to others facing similar life-threatening challenges while pursuing their goals, she says, “These things happen, and no one can plan for them. Make the most of the capabilities you still have and rely on your community too."
Now that she has overcome a major obstacle and obtained her degree, Mhlophe says she wants to get a cat or two and pursue her PhD in the Rare Disease Genomics Group at SU led by Prof Shahida Moosa. “I would like to give people hope and facilitate their journey toward a life of better quality and care. I also want to continue working very hard so I can help my mom finish building our home and look after my ageing family members. They've done a lot for me, and I want to return the favour."
When Mhlophe is not doing research, she plays video games, watches anime, and sings. She is also learning Japanese with her language exchange partner Keiko. As a nature and animal lover, Mhlophe regularly visits shelters and parks. Next on her list is a visit to the World of Birds, a wildlife sanctuary in Cape Town. ?
- Photo: Leka Mhlophe at the graduation ceremony. Photographer: Stefan Els
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