Dream come true for terminally ill boy
Even the most hardened paramedics could not help but shed a tear as they helped realise the seven-year-old boy’s dream.
IT was an emotional day as paramedics were able to assist a terminally ill, seven-year-old boy fulfill his dream to see and touch a dolphin.
Even the most hardened paramedics could not help but shed a tear on Thursday, as one of the dolphin handlers at uShaka Marine World slowly guided the friendly mammal towards the young boy, known only as Mohammed, said Netcare 911 spokesman, Chris Botha.
The emergency services organisation received a call to assist with the transpiration, after Little Fighters Cancer Trust, sponsored a trip for him and his family. Little Mohamed is terminally ill with cancer.
However, according to Botha, tragedy struck upon their arrival in Durban. He said Mohamed’s condition had deteriorated to the point where he had to be admitted into the Netcare Umhlanga hospital.
“His father approached the hospital manager, Mark Van Heerden and asked for help to fulfil his son’s dream. Consultation with Netcare 911, Umhlanga Hospital and uShaka Marine World took place and arrangements were made to take the little boy in an ambulance under the constant care of an Advanced Life Support paramedic to interact with the dolphins,” he said
“The boy was able to touch and feed the dolphin, and the expression on his face will be burnt into the hearts of all who witnessed this awesome event,” added Botha.
Paramedics also assisted in transporting the child back to a hospital in Port Elizabeth, near his home.
