Dr. Taz Emeran-Thomas is a medical doctor, health activist, solutionist and teenage pregnancy prevention advocate.
At just 16 years old, she fell pregnant and gave birth prematurely.
While many might have seen this as the end of their aspirations, Taz used it as a turning point to work harder than ever to achieve her dream of becoming a medical doctor.
“I was born and raised in a disadvantaged community in Cape Town, where dreams normally fall on the wayside. Before I fell pregnant, I had fallen in with a bad crowd and given up on my dreams,” she shared.
Her son’s premature birth and his two-month stay in the neonatal intensive care unit became a defining moment in her life.
Realizing the importance of providing a better future for her child, she resolved to turn her life around.
“My son was born prematurely and spent two months in the neonatal intensive-care unit. It made me realise I had to take care of him. From that very moment, I decided to turn my life around,” she added.
Despite facing criticism from her community for leaving her son behind, Taz moved to Johannesburg to pursue her medical degree at Wits University.
This decision was not easy, but with the unwavering support of her mother and stepfather, she forged ahead.
“I immediately left for Joburg to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor, despite the disapproval in my community about being a young mother leaving my son behind. I am forever grateful to my mother and step-dad for supporting me through it all,” she added.
However, her journey was not without obstacles.
Taz applied for numerous bursaries, scholarships, and private sponsorships but was unsuccessful. To fund her studies, she worked part-time jobs to cover her medical school fees.
The challenges mounted as she approached the finish line.
In 2020, just weeks before her graduation, she received a devastating email from the university stating she would not be allowed to graduate until she settled her outstanding debt of R471,000.
Heartbroken but not defeated, Dr. Taz turned to social media for help.
In a heartfelt five-minute video posted on Instagram, she shared her story and the urgency of her situation.
The video went viral, resonating with people across South Africa, and in just 24 hours, she raised not only the full amount needed but even more.
“I am in complete awe and still speechless by the love and kindness shown to me by South Africa. I felt alone while struggling during the first years of my degree, and now I feel like South Africa is my family,” she states.
Notably, Taz’ journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, community support, and the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity.
