34 yourfamily.co.zaSCARRED,
but NOT for life
KIM MCCUSKER, 31,
BECAME ‘THE GIRL WHO
WAS BRUTALLY DRAGGED
BENEATH A TAXI FOR 780
METRES’ IN 2011. NOW,SHE’S TELLING HER STORY
OF SURVIVAL
I
was never destined to live a life free
from personal challenges. From the day
I was born, it was clear that I’d never
be ‘normal’ in terms of my body and
my health, and I’d have to be resilient
and strong to conquer the challenges
life would throw at me. I was born with
clubfeet and from the time I was two
weeks old until I was ten months old,
I received orthopaedic treatment, which
fixed my feet. Then, at just over a year
old, I was diagnosed with a congenital
heart defect and underwent emergency
open-heart surgery to repair two holes
in my heart.
Once I’d recovered, my siblings and
I enjoyed a normal, happy childhood,
and after matric I studied financial
mathematics at the Rand Afrikaans
University (now the University of
Johannesburg) for 18 months before
deciding to study law through UNISA
instead. After completing my LLB degree
and passing the Bar exam, I was ready and
excited to begin my career as an advocate.