A warrior is one that is brave, strong and fearless. This is a story of one such person.
When I think back to my childhood days, there are many people who have made a significant impact throughout my life. One such person is Ubindren Munian, whom everyone knows as Ubo. He is a larger-than-life, always jovial and exceptionally loud character. When I say loud, I mean it when I say you will hear Ubo before you see him. As the years pass, people generally change, whether that is your perception or in reality. However, with Ubo, from the time the eight-year-old me met him, to now, 30 years later, his character and personality are the same. He started off as an employee in our family business. And he has not only become part of our family but one of my favourite humans.
“But more times than not, I have the best memories of times with Ubo.”
After serving in the South African Navy, Ubo joined my Dad as an apprentice to learn the motor mechanic trade. He has always had this boyish nature and was constantly full of jokes, usually to my amusement. But in my moody teenage years, I was not so impressed with Ubo. When he fetched me from high school, he would decide that it would be fun to strike up a conversation with our feared school principal. Or he would park across the road and scream for me as I exited the school gates. This entertained my younger brother but moody teenage me wanted to die of embarrassment! But more times than not, I have the best memories of times with Ubo.
He was employed with us until he qualified as a mechanic. Then he left for Johannesburg to seek greener pastures. Ubo says that his utmost reward was passing his trade test. However, his time spent with us was never about work. It was his passion and it gave him some of his greatest memories. Ubo accredits my Father with “making him a man”, especially when his own Dad had passed on.
“It was a bleak diagnosis. In that situation I think many people would have lost hope but Ubo never did.”
In 2012 Ubo received the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease. This meant that he could no longer work and that eventually he would lose his ability to walk. The doctors said that 95% of people diagnosed have a survival period of 3 to 5 years, with a maximum of 7 years. It was a bleak diagnosis. In that situation I think many people would have lost hope, but Ubo never did. It wasn’t easy on him, but he let go of what life should be like and focused on what it is. He was determined to not give up, not only for himself but for his wife, who became his rock. And for his dog, Charlie, who was like their child. Incidentally, it was Charlie, who in later years, would go on to save Ubo’s life one night when he became gravely ill. But that’s another story.
Ubo and his wife
“Swim to save your life.”
Post his diagnosis, Ubo found that he could no longer train in the gym as he used to. Also, daily mundane activities, that we take for granted, required effort but he learned to adjust to this new lifestyle. And he did it with a smile on his face and a joke on hand. Ubo took up swimming to keep fit and active. He recalls that on the day of his diagnosis, his neurologist asked if he could swim. When he answered “Yes”, she told him, “Swim to save your life.” And so, he did.
He saw swimming as a challenge, He says, “I started playing mind games with myself” as he forced himself to focus on the swimming and not on his illness. He has completed 20 swims so far, including the enduring Midmar Mile. On finishing a race, Ubo says, “I feel on top of the world”, and it is something that no-one can take away from him. For him, it is not about winning the race, he knows he will always place last. It is about completing it and setting an example and proving to himself that he can do it. It is never an easy feat and, in every race, the emotions always run high as he approaches the finish line.
“So, imagine our dismay when he tested positive for COVID recently!”
It has been eight years since his diagnosis, and he is still going strong. So, imagine our dismay when he tested positive for COVID recently! I personally felt an immense amount of anxiety as I’ve read the horror stories of immunocompromised people having little chance of survival. But Ubo, although he was shaken, took it in his stride. He said that he “had to be positive about being positive”. He took each day as it came, he kept the smile and still had his jokes. In his opinion, fighting COVID was easy compared to being locked down with his wife! He kept up his positive attitude and even on his worst days, he still had his infectious laugh. After putting up an immense fight, both he and his wife beat COVID. After two weeks he went back to training. As he says: “The best doctor’s name is Exercise.”
No matter what life throws at him, he is ready to fight.
“It is that fight and determination that allowed him not to succumb to his condition or to COVID.”
Ubo will get knocked down, kicked around, but he will still get back up and with a smile at that. To me, he is a warrior and epitomises one of my favourite quotes: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” To try and sum up Ubo’s spirit is a difficult thing to do. He is, in so many ways, the person we should all aspire to be like. No matter what life throws at him, he is ready to fight. It is that fight and determination that allowed him not to succumb to his condition or to COVID. When I asked him how he describes his attitude in coping with setbacks, he said to me, “I can’t complain. What happened yesterday has happened and I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. So when I wake up each morning, I thank God for the past and ask for guidance for what’s to come. I live with no regrets.” He says that his “backbone” is his wife, but he adds, “It is because she always minds my business.” But he is forever grateful.
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