Baby Roxy Simon is fighting for her life in ICU
This tiny baby girl was born prematurely in Evander Hospital on 19 February, before her small lungs could have properly developed.
HIGHVELD – Little Roxanne Simon (one-month-old) is fighting for her life in the high care unit of the Witbank Hospital.
This tiny baby girl was born prematurely in Evander Hospital on 19 February, before her small lungs could have properly developed.
Ms Natasha Simon (19) from Secunda was 32 weeks pregnant when she had to be rushed into theatre for an emergency caesarean.
“The baby was not active and when the doctor examined me, he no longer found a heartbeat.
“He discovered during the operation that the placenta had already torn away from the uterus,” explained Ms Simon.
Roxy, as her mother and father, Mr Roberto Alfonso, fondly call her, weighed 1,9kg at birth.
“She was unresponsive and the doctors had to inject her with adrenaline and do CPR to get her heart pumping,” said Ms Simon.
Three days later while Roxy was still being treated in the neonatal baby room, her body went into shock and she struggled to breathe.
Mother and daughter were transferred to Witbank Hospital that is better equipped for premature babies.
The infant was placed on a ventilator on 23 February, but the following day things took a turn for the worst.
“Doctors said there was a 50/50 chance of survival.
“Roxy was on high watch for the next two days and was resuscitated three times during this period.”
Ms Simon said Roxanne has been in hospital for the past five weeks and she is not getting any better.
She has been on and off the ventilator, but she only last two days before her body begins to shut down.
“She has received blood three times, because her own tiny body cannot produce enough to flow to her organs.”
Roxanne is currently weighing 1.4kg. She has lost a lot of weight since birth.
Ms Simon said Roxy struggles with bowel movements too and is in a lot of pain.
“Her lungs are dysfunctional and she cannot survive without a ventilator. Her lungs have to be sucked clean daily.
“The doctors cannot give us a prognosis on her health.”
Ms Simon and Mr Alfonso believe that Roxanne will have a better fighting chance in a private hospital where there are more means to help their second child.
“I unfortunately do not have a medical aid or the money to have Roxy admitted to a private hospital. I stay in the mothers’ ward where there is no running hot water and there are also not the right food for mothers who breastfeed. There are many moms here who do not get food, because there is not enough to go around.
“We have also gone days without water and there is no drinking water available.”
Ms Simon, a waitress at Oregon Spur in Secunda Mall, has no support structure in Witbank and also not many relatives in Secunda.
She and Mr Alfonso also has a 16 month-old daughter named Skyler who stays with her dad while mom is in hospital at Roxanne’s side.
“I do not want to talk bad about the doctors as they have done a good job of keeping my baby girl alive so far, but I fear that there is nothing more that they can offer her in a state hospital,” said Ms Simon.
The couple received a cost estimated quotation of R300 000 that must be paid before baby Roxanne can be admitted to the Mediclinic Highveld in Trichardt.
The non-profit organisation Child Medi Organisation, is seeking help on Facebook for baby Roxanne.
They are trying to raise the money to send her to a private hospital where a specialist can examine her.
Anyone who wants to contribute to baby Roxanne’s medical expenses, can deposit donations into the Child Medi Organisation’s First National Bank account. The cheque account number is 626 325 810 56, branch 250655.
The swift code is firnzajj.
Use Roxanne as reference. Proof of payment can be emailed to info@childmedi.org.
