Mother from eMzinoni in coma after child birth, family wants answers
Mayisela said while the management were busy telling them God is there, they asked on where Kalake was and if she gave birth, they were told she was transferred to Ermelo hospital after giving birth and they gave them the baby.
Princess Kalake (20) is fighting for her life in Bethal Hospital since giving birth in April.
According to her aunt, Sesi Mahlangu, the Mayisela family wants the hospital management to explain what has happened to their daughter.
Mahlangu claims that Kalake was still a healthy woman when she went into labour.
“She was walking and talking on her way to the hospital after the clinic confirmed that she was about to give birth.
“We are stunned to see her in her current condition,” said Mahlangu.
After Kalake was admitted, the family waited on word from the hospital, but according to Mahlangu, it never came.
“Although we had left all our contact details at the hospital, the staff did not even bother to call us after the baby was born. We eventually sent someone to go check if she had given birth.
“We were appalled when our messenger returned without news. She was not given any information if the baby had been born. She was merely told to summon us to the hospital.”
Mahlangu and other family members rushed to the hospital where they were ushered into the boardroom for a meeting with the management.
“They just kept on saying that God is with us, without telling us what has happened to Princess,” said Mahlangu.
Mahlangu said while the management were still telling them God is there, the family kept asking about the whereabout of Kalake and if the baby was born.
“They eventually informed us that after the delivery, Princess had been transferred to Ermelo Hospital. The management told us that Princess sustained brain damage and her head was swelling. They again told us that God was with us.”
Kalake’s healthy baby boy was handed to Mahlangu. He is named Sibongokuhle, which (loosely translated) means ‘thanks to what is good’.
Mahlangu said they were reeling with shock about the terrible news and told the hospital management that they have decided to go to Ermelo to see if Kalake was fine.
When the family arrived at Ermelo Hospital, they were told that Kalake had been admitted to ICU. The nurses asked them to wait so that they could bath Kalake before the family checked on her.
“We could not believe what we saw. Princess was not either talking nor moving. We never got a clear answer of what was wrong with her,” said Mahlangu.
“We are Princess’ family and we need answers from the hospital as to what happened and why we were not immediately informed about our daughter’s condition after giving birth,” said Mahlangu.
Kalake has since been sent back to the Bethal Hospital in June where she is being kept in the surgical ward for women.
“We were promised that she will be transferred to Pretoria, but this has not yet happened. We were hoping that if the MEC comes, we will get answers,” said Mahlangu.
The office of the Mpumalanga Health Department MEC, Sesekane Manzini, said she will soon visit the Mahlangu family to give them the support that they need. However, Mahlangu said the MEC has to this day not visited.
“I suppose our family is just not an urgent enough matter for her.”
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Mahlangu and her family are worried about Princess.
“Ermelo Hospital has done a lot for her while there are no resources at the Bethal Hospital.
“We even noticed a new head injury. When we confronted them, they just said the hospital is not responsible for the injury,” said Mahlangu.
Mahlangu said the family only wants the truth, and even if it was a mistake by the hospital, the family is pledging their cooperation.
Mahlangu said the family members are angry because no one is taking responsibility. They are also worried that the six-month-old Sibongokuhle will never know his mother.
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The family is hopeful that other doctors from outside the hospital might be able to help Kalake.
They cannot afford medical expenses, and hope another doctor will respond to their plight, even if it is just to give the family a wheelchair for Kalake.
“Her 76-year-old granny, Maria Mayisela, keeps asking for her granddaughter. We are tired of lying to her in an effort to comfort her.
“We always tell Granny that Princess is doing fine, although we know that her condition is poor.”
Mahlangu said any local doctor who wants to lend a helping hand, can contact Nomndeni Mayisela on 073 807 0359.
