Nothing gave her more joy than sitting across from a client, manicuring their nails to perfection. Nails were Melinda Jansen van Vuuren’s life and the ones at the tips of her own fingers were always buffed and polished. But the former nail technician’s life has all but ground to a halt now.
Bandages cover the hands that were once her pride and joy – and when she removes the coverings you see why. The nails on the three middle fingers of her right hand look like scorched nutshells, the skin on her fingertips blackened as if they’ve been dipped in ink.
Gangrene has affected three fingers on her right hand and one on her left hand. Doctors say there’s nothing they can do – she simply has to wait for her fingertips to fall off.