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20 August 2018
WomenofKovsies Kesa praises the most important woman in her life
Kesa Molotsane, top Kovsies athlete says much of her success is thanks to the amazing backing of her mother Shani.

Most of Kesa Molotsane’s achievements on the athletic track and road can be attributed to the tireless support of her mother, Kesa says.  

“It might sound like a cliché, but my mother has taught me so much and I have learnt enough from her to survive anything. She has played the biggest role in my career and made it a priority in her life even before it (her athletics career) blossomed. 

‘My mother invested in me’

“My mother Shani has invested so much. She was present at the start and to this day she is still there for me,” Kesa says about the most important woman in her life.

Molotsane, who is doing her BA honours at the University of the Free State, has had a good 12 months behind her. She is the Spar Grand Prix 10km champion from last year, is the national student champion in the 5 000m and 10 000m and was the best South African performer at the Confederation of African Athletics African Cross Country Championships.

‘Improvement and growth motivates me’

She says improvement and growth motivates her big time. “It’s a way of weighing my efforts and hard work. I am inspired by a lot of things, depending on what situation I am in and the inspiration I’m looking for. I believe in and value inspiration in abundance.”

According to her, representing her country at the World Cross Country Championships in Uganda in March 2017 was the biggest accomplishment of her career. “It was my first time at world championships and I was the first South African to cross the finish line. I want to leave my legacy for years to come and want to touch lives using my God-given talent and gift.”

News Archive

UFS Doctors make History in South Africa
2011-07-14

 

New aortic valve

Three members of our Faculty of Health Sciences made history by being the first to implant a special new aortic valve in South Africa. 
 
In a combined effort, the Departments of Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery did the first Medtronic CoreValve implant in South Africa on a patient in Universitas Academic Hospital. 
 
With the support of hospital management and the Medtronic company, Prof. Hennie Theron, Prof. Stephen Brown and Dr JP Theron of the Faculty of Health Sciences, with the assistance of Dr Jean-Claude Laborde, performed the operation early on Wednesday morning, 06 July 2011.
 
The advantage of this new valve is that it can be implanted percutaneously through a catheter from the groin. This eliminates the need for invasive surgery.
 
The valve is made from porcine pericardium (tissue derived from pigs) and is mounted on an expandable stent, which is threaded along an artery, until it reaches its desired position. Prof. Theron says the valve is especially useful in older patients who suffer from aortic valve disease and pose a high surgical risk. Furthermore, the use of this valve greatly reduces hospitalisation time, in comparison to traditional surgery.
 
“One patient already received an implant this morning and we hope to finish 2 more today,” Prof. Brown said, emphasizing the swiftness and efficiency of the new valve implanting process.
 
“It is a complex procedure, but this service can in future be offered to all patients in the public and private sectors of the Free State. It is heartwarming that the academic complex can take the lead in this modern, high-tech therapy.”
 
For more information on the procedure, please contact Prof. Theron at 051 4053428.
 

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