WATCH: ‘Slim to None’: Pinetown Man Who Survived 95% Burns Discharged for Christmas After Months in ICU

There will be singing and dancing in Thabisile Mhlongo’s home in Pinetown on Christmas Day, as her son Clinton Motaung - who miraculously survived burns to 95% of his body in a work-related accident - was granted a temporary discharge after months in hospital.

He was released on Wednesday.

Clinton, who worked for a pest control services company, was fumigating a residential property on March 6, when a burning candle triggered an explosion.

Medics and medical literature rated his chances of survival as “slim to none.”

Clinton has spent many months in the Ahmed Al-Kadi Private Hospital’s intensive care unit.

He had to breathe through a pipe in his throat for the first few months and was sedated into a coma in ICU for pain and psychological management.

Infection was also a serious threat to his life as his immunity was compromised and had suffered excessive skin loss.

Over the months, Clinton had undergone a range of medical treatments, including surgeries, with Dr Kajal Lutchminarain, a plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeon, his admitting and primary doctor, directing the healing processes.

In a video shared with the Daily News, Clinton said, “I’m a 95% burn survivor. It has been a rocky road. I’m so happy to be going home for Christmas. So guys, if you go through what I have been through, just stay strong.”

In the same video, Mhlongo, who struggled to keep her emotions in check, expressed amazement at her son’s survival after being “burned from head to toe” and appreciated those who cared for him for nearly ten months.

“I’m so grateful to the doctors and the staff at the Ahmed Al-Kadi Hospital. I just want to scream; I am filled with tears of joy. I can’t believe it.”

Clinton is due to be readmitted on Monday.

Dr Lutchminarain said Clinton had another session in theatre last week and was able to walk out of hospital.

Lutchminarain said: “The severity of his injuries required prolonged, intensive treatment. From the outset, survival was uncertain. To our knowledge, no patient with a 95% burn injury has previously survived in this province. The aim was to safely discharge him before Christmas so he could spend time with his family, which has now been achieved.”

She said Clinton’s recovery necessitated prolonged time in ICU and early protocol-driven burn management, with twice-weekly theatre sessions over 10 months.

“At times, weeks were spent waiting for small areas of skin to regenerate before they could be re-harvested and grafted onto extensive burn wounds elsewhere on his body.”

Lutchminarain, said there was no compromise in the care given to Clinton.

She said the treatment administered to him was delivered through her sustained multidisciplinary collaboration with Dr Amit Singh, Dr Geremie Nayager, anesthetist Dr Selvan Naidoo, and partners, Sashen Naik (Physiotherapist), and dietetic support from Radha Joshi.

Lutchminarain also acknowledged the ICU leadership under Sister Naweeda Khan, theatre coordination of Sister Annie Pillay, the host of nurses who provided ward and other forms of care, and the hospital’s management for their support.

Clinton’s case was rare and the most severe she has ever dealt with.

Lutchminarian was proud of what was achieved and it has motivated her to do more research in this field.

“There was no real protocol to manage a patient who had a small area of skin (5%) to cover the rest of the body. I will publish my findings and hopefully it will help other plastic surgeons in guiding their management in whichever way.”

Mhlongo recalled how her world had been turned upside down when she received the news about Clinton’s accident.

“I was at home when my daughter called me and said that I should go to the Ahmed Al-Kadi Hospital immediately because Clinton had been burned very badly.”

When she got to the hospital, the sight of Clinton’s condition overwhelmed her. Mhlongo was inconsolable.

“His body was covered all over with burns… I will never forget that day. The medical staff tried their best to calm me down. I couldn't be pacified because of what I saw.”

Clinton was unconscious at the time.

Racing through her mind were a myriad of thoughts. “My main worry was whether he would survive. I wondered whether he would ever have a normal life again. Would he be able to use his hands, work again, feed himself…”

It marked the start of a long and arduous journey for Mhlongo, one filled with little hope that her son would survive.

All that kept her going was her faith in God, her reliance on the medical team working on her son, and the encouragement she received from some family and friends.

“In the early days, each time the phone rang, I would be filled with fear and panic. It was worse when the hospital’s ICU department’s number appeared. I wondered what type of news I would be receiving. Those were traumatic times.”

She said Clinton’s discharge from hospital was a moment to savour. “I thought I would spend Christmas Day in hospital with Clinton, but thank God he can come home for the first time after such a long time. I’m extremely happy. This is going to be a great Christmas.”

In anticipation of Clinton’s homecoming, Mhlongo said she spruced and rearranged her son’s room.

“We’ve planned a big braai for family and friends. There will be music, dancing, and some vuvuzela blowing too. We are so excited.”

Mhlongo said for a long time she believed her son was going to die.

“Initially, Clinton couldn’t move, talk, or eat. He couldn’t do anything for himself. As the months went by, now he’s able to walk, talk, eat whatever he likes, and he is able to move his fingers.”

She said Dr Lutchminarain told her that with time and more treatment, Clinton’s condition would improve.

Mhlongo was especially appreciative of Lutchminarain’s role in her son’s “miraculous” improvement.

“She (Lutchminarain) helped him so much. With every challenge Clinton had, the doctor quickly tried to assist. I love her and what she has done to care for my son.”

Mhlongo said her hopes were soaring again.

“I pray and hope that one day Clinton will have a wife and children. I want to live until I see that happen, his full recovery, and to see his handsome face again.”

DAILY NEWS