An Ill Nelson Mandela Is Putting Up A ‘Courageous Fight’

Former South African President, Nelson Mandela, is still very ill but according to his family, he is putting up a very courageous fight. Mandela, 95, has received home-based medical attention since being released from the hospital after three months of treatment for a recurring lung infection.

According to ABC News, Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, told SABC television news: “Tata is still with us, strong, courageous. Even, for a lack of a better word… on his ‘deathbed’ he is teaching us lessons; lessons in patience, in love, lessons of tolerance.”

“Every moment I get with him I’m amazed. There are times where I have to pinch myself that I come from this man who is a fighter even though you can see he is struggling, but fighting spirit is still there with him.”

The Denver Post continued on to say that his grandson said that, “He is still with us although he is not doing well in bed.” Nelson Mandela has been plagued with reoccurring lung problems for the past few years. According to ABC News, Mandela has been hospitalized at least four times over the past three years.

“In February 2011, he was briefly hospitalized with a respiratory, infection before being re-hospitalized for a lung infection and gallstone removal in December 2012. After a successful medical procedure in early March 2013, his lung infection recurred, and he was briefly hospitalized in Pretoria. On 8 June 2013, his lung infection worsened, and he was re-hospitalized in Pretoria in a serious condition.”

The Denver Post went on to quote Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who said last month that Mandela could no longer talk “because of all the tubes that are in his mouth to clear (fluid from) the lungs.” While Mandela’s health seems to continue to take a downward path, but his family says that he is putting on a strong front, and is a continued inspiration for many.

[Nelson Mandela photo credit: Archives de la Ville de Montréal via photopin cc]