Five breaths from little fighter
LITTLE FOURWAYS VILLAGE - The little 15-month-old Liam Fraser-Bothma, who experienced an accidental near-drowning on 9 June, continues to fight for his life, and on Father's Day, he managed to take five breaths on his own without the aid of a ventilator.
Liam Fraser-Bothma, who suffered a near-drowning experience on the evening of 9 June, took five breaths on his own without the use of a ventilator on 19 June.
These five breaths came after doctors started to ease the 15-month-old out of sedation on 17 June and served as a sign of hope for not only his family but for the many Fourways community members who are praying for little Fraser-Bothma’s recovery.
His family continues to update his many well-wishers on the Facebook page, Liam Fraser-Bothma Update, and the community continues to share their support for the family on the platform too.
Fraser-Bothma’s uncle, Kevin Aldridge told Fourways Review that the little boy’s parents, Sean and Natalie, are incredibly grateful for the love, prayers and support they’ve received from so many people in the community. “Above all, we continue to trust God. He is faithful, and good – despite what the outcome might be – albeit that as a family we firmly believe Liam will be fully restored,” said Aldridge.
As reported in Support for Liam, community members were first made aware of the incident on 9 June when Troupant and Leslie avenues in Magaliessig were temporarily closed to traffic for the Netcare911 medical helicopter to airlift Fraser-Bothma to Netcare Garden City Hospital. Both Netcare911 and Emer-G-Med paramedics responded to the incident at Fraser-Bothma’s Little Fourways Village home after his accidental near-drowning in the bathtub.
Paramedics conducted CPR on Fraser-Bothma for about 20 to 30 minutes before he was transported to hospital.
Media liaison officer for Netcare911, Athlenda Mathe issued a Netcare911 poster in which a near-drowning is described as the survival of a drowning event involving unconsciousness or water inhalation. “It occurs more frequently in males and children,” read the poster.
During the past week, there has been concern for the high brain pressure Fraser-Bothma was enduring, but by 19 June, a Facebook post read, “They removed the brain pressure monitor and now only monitoring blood pressure.”
While the little fighter was still on a ventilator and his pupils were still fixed and dilated, the Facebook post on 19 June also read that Fraser-Bothma had shown a sign of movement. “He is moving in response to pain and when Andrea did round and round the garden in his hand he moved his fingers. Feels like very little progress but we’ll take it. It’s been a really tough few days so it’s lovely to have a little sign of hope. TRUSTING, BELIEVING, HOPING, FIGHTING.”
Details: Emergency numbers to keep at hand: Netcare911 medical emergencies, 082 911 and police emergency call centre, 10111.
*This is a developing story and so some details of Liam Fraser-Bothma’s condition may change before this edition hits the streets. For all the latest on Fraser-Bothma’s condition, go to www.fourwaysreview.co.za
Read theDrowning Flyer published by Netcare.
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