SECUNDA – Little Roxanne Simon is finally home.
This little girl is only five months old, but proved herself to be a fighter.
She was prematurely born in Evander Hospital on 19 February and was fighting for her life for several months in the high care unit of the Witbank Hospital.
Her young mother, Ms Natasha Simon (19) was 32 weeks pregnant when she had to be rushed into theatre for an emergency caesarean.
Roxy was gravely ill and her lungs were underdeveloped.
The baby weighed 1.9kg, but was given only a 50 per cent survival chance. She had to be resuscitated several times and received blood on numerous occasions.
Ridge Times previously reported on Roxy’s struggle for survival.
Ms Simon then said her youngest child had been on and off the ventilator, but she would only last two days before her body began to shut down.
Ms Simon and her partner, Mr Roberto Alfonso, were elated when their baby was released from the hospital on 8 June.
“She is on chronic oxygen and we cannot take her outside yet, but she is doing well. She now weighs 3.6kg,” said Ms Simon.
Doctors have now diagnosed Roxanne with Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a form of chronic lung disease that affects mostly premature infants.
The lungs and the airways were damaged in the neonatal period, causing destruction (dysplasia) of the tiny air sacs of the lung.
Although some children outgrow BPD, the doctors could not give Roxy’s parents a prognosis on her health.
“She turns pale and then blue when she does not get enough oxygen. Her chest also appears sunken in.”
The couple had to make some changes to their home and also had to buy several expensive machines and air purifiers to make life a little easier for Roxy.
Her grandmother, Ms Elizabeth Alfonso, looks after Roxy when her parents are at work.
Roxy also gets a lot of attention from her older sister, Skyler (2).
“We believe Roxy’s health will improve. She is so cute, but can get very moody at times,” said Ms Simon.
The young family thanked everyone who supported them through this tough time.
Ms Simon admits that medical debt accumulated about R45 000 keeps her up at night.
“Roxy drinks special milk and needs supplements. Things are tough.”
Roxy needs to go back to Witbank Hospital on 24 July for a surgical procedure on her tongue.
“She has what is referred to as tongue-tied and this procedure will improve suckling and speech,” explained Ms Simon.
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