Caring husband shows true meaning of staying together through thick and thin

A devoted Gqeberha husband and self-taught baker has opted to use his skills to raise money to care for his bedridden and housebound wife, Vanessa Seale.

Once a caregiver herself, Seale, is now the one in need of constant care after she suffered a series of serious health conditions.

These include osteoporosis in the middle of her spine, no gel between the last three vertebrae at the base of her spine, a stretched intestine, irritable bowel syndrome and depression.

Fortunately, her husband, Elton, has stepped up and says his wife gave him the idea to start baking to try to assist the couple’s financial situation.

“She was praying and God told her to look up recipes for me to start baking.

“I have been selling banana loaf, milk tart, lemon meringue and muffins at the clinic, and from our home.

“My wife can’t move much but she sometimes helps me from bed with the mixing.

“Our one-bedroom apartment is very small and we don’t have a lot of space.

“We’ve been sleeping in the lounge for five years because of her condition,” he said.

Elton himself was diagnosed with a mental health challenge after having a nervous breakdown and is still under care at a psychiatric clinic.

Unfortunately, their Sassa disability grant is often delayed and the money from the baked goods sales keeps them afloat. 

As a result of her condition, Vanessa has been unable to leave the house, even for something as simple as a haircut and her husband has been cutting her hair for her.

“She used to go to a normal hairdresser and when she couldn’t go out any more, I did it for her.

“But now its is difficult to manage with all the baking I have to do.

“I put out a post on social media, asking for anyone who could help us, and a stylist named Bernice came and offered her services.

“We are so grateful,” he said .

The hairstylist said she was just happy she could assist.

“I came to give her a haircut and style her hair. I will come back and colour her hair at a later stage.

“I just wanted to do my part to help a fellow member of my community,” she said. 

Vanessa expressed immense gratitude to  her husband and the sacrifices he’d made. 

“I am so grateful for my husband. He has been helping me from the start.

“I can’t do any washing, cooking and cleaning. He takes care of everything.

“He makes sure that I am taken care of, even when he leaves me alone for the day,” she said.

The Herald