By Waaqiah Jaffer
Rabiaa Toffar-Gool (61) who started her nursing career at the young age of 18 at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley is sad to bid farewell to the institution after a 43-year stint.
Toffar-Gool was herself diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. Despite her breast cancer diagnosis she was not deterred from rendering excellent service to the community of Kimberley.
Gool was born in 1962 and grew up in Florianville, Kimberley where she attended Endeavour Primary and Floors High School. She matriculated from Success College in 1981. She thereafter decided to pursue a three-year diploma in professional nursing at the Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College. “I have always loved working with people”, she said.
During the course of her career she advanced from being an assistant nurse to staff nurse and retired as a professional nurse in September 2023.
Sadly in 2003, Gool experienced chest pain and discovered a lump in her left breast.
As time progressed the lump increased in size. A doctor that she consulted over the matter diagnosed her with Leiomyo Carcinoma. She later underwent a mastectomy of her left breast at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital who also started her on chemotherapy.
“The worst part of chemo was losing all my hair. I was completely bald within three weeks of my first chemo”. She also mentioned that chemotherapy causes her depression but cautions patients to refrain from going into a depression state that they cannot come out of.
Toffar-Gool was cancer free in 2004. After receiving support from ‘Reach for Recovery’ Cancer Association she joined them as a volunteer. In 2005 she underwent a successful breast reconstruction in Bloemfontein and a breast renewal in 2020.
During this journey her family was very supportive. “Fall on your knees every day and say Shukran (Thank you) for everything. Open your eyes in the morning and go on with your life”, she expressed.
“I already miss working at KH” she stated. Her most memorable experience as a professional nurse was participating in the “Northern Cape Surveillance Trip”. During this outreach programme she traveled with medical doctors from Kimberley and Cape
Town who were assisting patients from Upington all the way to Vredendal in the Western Cape.
To her advantage she is a scarce skilled nurse. Hence she is currently assisting Dr De Jager Wood at MediClinic working in casualty at Gariep Hospital.
“You are enough. You are strong. You are worthy. You are resilient and you are still a woman. Toffar-Gool applauded the brave and courageous women who are fighting breast cancer.
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