Unity after tragedy as birthday is celebrated
The child has 14 per cent partial-thickness burns to his face, neck, upper body and arm
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/63/2020/02/Autistic-1.jpg)
When a tragedy strikes, the community stands together as one.
On February 1, a five-year-old autistic child was burned by fire while his single mother, who asked to remain anonymous, was moving them into their new home.
KwaZulu Private Ambulance was called out and treated the boy at the scene.
“Treating the child was a challenge in itself, since an autistic child normally has poor communication skills and behavioural difficulties,” said a representative the ambulance service.
The child has 14 per cent partial-thickness burns to his face, neck, upper body and arm.
He still has a long road to recovery and has to remain in hospital for some time. This incident brought the community of Vryheid together however, when it came to light it was the boy’s fifth birthday last Sunday. Donations for a cake, party packs and cooldrinks poured in, and a full-blown birthday party was organised by various residents.
The party took place in the Vryheid Provincial Hospital Paediatric Ward and included children and their parents from the ward.
All were treated to a festive atmosphere and the party enabled them to forget about their challenges for a while. The donors chose to remain anonymous but thanked the community for its generous contributions.
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