Fundraiser to benefit boy with heart defect

A fundraiser for 10-year-old Brakpan North resident Jaden Trollip will be held on November 5 in Kempton Park.

The Grade Four Muriel Brand School learner was born with a heart defect known as Tricuspid atresia. In addition, he has Hypoplastic right heart syndrome and a ventricular septal defect (hole in the heart).

While the family does have medical aid, many expenses are not covered.

“He has pretty much spent most of his life in hospital and has had four heart operations,” said his mom Caitlin Trollip.

“He survived sepsis at seven months old. In June 2019 he received a pacemaker and at the beginning of September of the same year, it went septic.

“He went to the theatre three times in September alone. They cleaned the wound and removed the pacemaker and put it back. He spent a good amount of time in ICU until the infection cleared. He spent almost two months in the hospital.”

Caitlin explained Jaden’s pacemaker site became infected again in March.

“He was in hospital for a week or two and then it happened again in April,” she said.

“He had been to the theatre four times to wash and clean the wound. Each time the wound oozed pus afterwards and they were at the stage where they were considering replacing his pacemaker again.

“They decided to remove the pacemaker as his body was rejecting it as a foreign object.

“Unfortunately Jaden didn’t get better. His body couldn’t cope without the pacemaker. His body started to swell and he had to be put on oxygen due to low levels.

“On June 17, it was decided to put the pacemaker in because he was going into heart failure.

“His heart seemed to be coping well without it for a short while but all the doctors have said if he doesn’t have it his heart won’t cope.”

The new pacemaker, however, comes with the risk of another infection.

“His immune system is suppressed. While he was in hospital he picked up two respiratory viruses,” said Caitlin.

“He was on weeks of antibiotics and was in the ICU twice.”

An electroencephalogram (EEG) done on Jaden during his hospital stay also revealed he has epileptic activity, without seizures, while asleep.

He is now on medication. He is also being treated for anxiety and attends play therapy sessions, which according to his mom, he enjoys a lot.

After being discharged from hospital at the end of June, Jaden’s health has stabilised.

“He’s doing well at the moment and he’s healthy,” said Caitlin.

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The fundraiser will take place from 09:00 at the Avion Bowling Club and Restaurant at plot 7, 284 Deodar Street in Pomona.

There will be stalls, children’s entertainment and live performances. Entrance is R30 for adults and R10 for children.

A ‘Move for Jaden’ challenge will also take place at 11:00 where entrants can walk, run, cycle or ride (scooters and go-karts welcome).

This entry fee is R20 per person. For more information about the fundraiser, contact Ti-Hana Rudolph on 082 708 9897.

Residents can also help relieve some of the family’s financial strain by donating to Jaden’s BackaBuddy campaign at www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/Jaden-Trollip