Parents’ desperate call to help Caylum
Springs residents Wayne (25) and Samantha Willemse (30) will do anything in their power to raise much-needed funds to take their seven-month-old son Caylum to Boston in America.
“We remain positive and hopeful that we will have enough funds for a posterior tracheopexy operation, which he so desperately needs,” says Samantha.
Caylum suffers from an abnormal connection between the oesophagus and the windpipe, called a tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) as well as oesophageal atresia and (OA).
OA occurs when the upper part of the oesophagus does not connect with the lower oesophagus and stomach. Tracheobronchomalacia is a rare condition in which the windpipe’s cartilage is soft.
To fix this, Caylum needs to undergo a complicated operation, which can only be done by Doctor Russell Jennings, a paediatrician, who has done the ground-breaking procedure at the Boston Children’s Hospital in America.
His parents were hoping that the operation could be done in South Africa, but it is not possible. Therefore, Caylum needs to go to Boston for this life-changing operation.
Caylum was only two days old when he underwent life-saving surgery called TOF repair and was one month old when he went for his second surgery, called a aortopexy, where the aortic arch was attached to the sternum.
“Our son has only spent a few weeks out of hospital but has since been in the intensive care unit of the Netcare Clinton Hospital in Alberton for 100 days,” says his father.
Both Wayne and Samantha received infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to assist them in emergency situations.
Although Caylum experienced several prolonged periods of not breathing, due to tracheo- and bronchomalacia, his parents thought the last major Apparent Life-Threatening Event (ALTE) was the worst.
Always being alert, Wayne knew exactly what was happening when Caylum’s breathing recently became uneven.
That night the toddler experienced a major ALTE caused by his condition and Wayne claims it took the doctors nearly 45 minutes to resuscitate Caylum.
“This sudden occurrence of not breathing, is quite frightening.
“You feel helpless and applying CPR is the only hopeful way of trying to save his life,” he says.
Caylum has also picked up an adenovirus, which is an respiratory virus.
The toddler now needs another operation called nissen fundoplication surgery for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
“This surgery strengthens the valve between the oesophagus and stomach,” says Samantha.
The couple recently moved to Alberton to be within a 5km radius of the hospital.
“We have a nine-year-old daughter as well and the situation leaves an emotional strain on all of us,” says Samantha.
The couple are grateful for all the assistance and cannot thank the people enough for contributing towards the funds needed to take Caylum to Boston.
For more information on how to donate, go onto his website, caylum.org.za or visit his Facebook page Caylum Willemse for updates on his progress.
