Northmead cerebral palsy twins in need of help

Northmead parents Chanal and Emile thought they had their fair share of heartbreak after the death of their son, but then their twins were diagnosed with cerebral palsy, leaving them in need of help.

“We lost a baby boy, Zane, so when the twins were born, Mason got his brother’s name – he is Mason Zane Jacobs,” Chanal explained.

“We gave Madison her second name as Hope, as we were praying for them.”

Cerebral palsy comes as a result of abnormal brain development, this often occurs before birth.

The term cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect one’s ability to move and maintain posture.

The couple often find themselves visiting the hospital for check-ups and ways forward to give the four-year-old’s better lives.

“They both have cerebral palsy that affects their muscles, so both can’t really walk on their own,” Chanal explained.

“Mason was on a ventilator when he was born, he also has chronic constipation.

“He can feed independently; he can hold a cup by himself but is still fully dependent on me for his other basic activities of daily living.

Based on the recent MRI scan’s results, Madison has to be admitted to hospital in the near future.

“They were born three months premature and we have been in and out of hospital from January They have gone for EEG scans, got botox and stayed in hospital for three days.

“The [duo] goes once a week for physio and are also part of a study for children with cerebral palsy and the effects of the botox.

“The [twins] are on a waiting list for the Muriel Brand School (Brakpan) that helps children with cerebral palsy.

“Twanet Compaan helped set up a Facebook page called Madison & Mason Twins with Cerebral Palsy and Hemiplegia cp – to raise funds for the twins.

“They are so brave and happy babies. I just want to give them the best I can to have a normal life.

“We are also new to this and take it a day at a time to try to do our best.”

The family’s daily routine is a bit more complicated than the ‘norm’ of going to work, coming home, attending to homework, having dinner and bedtime.

“We attend physio once a week at Germiston Hospital and still have about six appointments so far at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital,” Chanal explained.

“We work from Monday to Saturday, we do some exercise for the twins at home daily as well, we got little walkers for them from the hospital.

“We get home at 6pm then cooking, eating, bathing – they have been going for physio at Germiston for the last two and half years.

“I also have an older daughter, Mandy, in Laerskool Northmead.

“Emile has a son, Deen.”

“Because the twins are not walking, they are not yet pottie-trained, so we use about seven to eight bags of nappies a month.”

Chanal explained that the Jacobs twins still go for hearing tests and see an eye specialist every time she goes to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

“It’s a day’s work missed as we are there for a long time,” she said.

“At the moment, they go to a nursery school in Kempton, so I travel from Benoni to Kempton Park and then Bedfordview.”

The family is also grateful for any winter clothing, shoes, nappies and wet wipes anyone would be willing to give to them for the twins.

“I had shed a lot of tears, taking off a lot from work to go to all these appointments – I am open to any advice and help for the children,” she said.

“Mason likes anything with wheels: cars, trucks, police cars and fire trucks, while Madison likes building blocks and drawing.”

“They are very loving and happy babies, always smiling,” Chanal lovingly said.

The twins recently celebrated their fourth birthday at the Pretoria Zoo, which was a treat from their aunt.

Anyone who would like to donate or find out more information about the twins, can visit the Facebook Page: Madison & Mason Twins with Cerebral Palsy and Hemiplegia cp 

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