Caylum’s birthday funds help three babies
When Caylum Willemse recently turned one, he shared his birthday party with 50 children in Alberton.
When Caylum Willemse recently turned one, he shared his birthday party with 50 children in Alberton.
Adriaan Gerber, family spokesman, says the birthday party was a massive success.
“The 50 children came to play and have fun with Caylum for the day and numerous adults arrived, without children, to meet Caylum and his family,” he says.
He says Caylum was completely overwhelmed by all the children at first, but he soon settled in nicely and enjoyed the day.
Read:Â WATCH: Caylum celebrates his first birthday party in SA
The family asked that no gifts be bought for Caylum, but that people rather use the funds to support babies who have been chosen for assistance by the Caylum Willemse Foundaion.
Funds raised at the party will be used to help three toddlers.
Adriaan says Miané Ainslee (1) has cerebral palsy after nearly drowning in November and needs therapy to strengthen her legs.
The foundation has also made significant donations to Shelton Tofile (1) who has tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) and oesophageal atresia (OA, both conditions which Caylum was born with) and 10-month-old Phenyo Mackenzie Moropa who has tibial hemimelia.
This is an extremely rare condition involving a congenitally short tibia with a variety of pathology of the fibula.
Adriaan says the family is slowly but surely settling back into their normal routine with Caylum and Charlotte (9) after last year’s traumatic events.
Regular updates are still being done on Caylum’s social media pages, but the family has reduced the posts to one or two a week.
“This is to allow themselves to start building a life together as a family,” says Adriaan.
Read:Â WATCH: Caylum back in hospital in Boston
When Caylum was born he was diagnosed with TOF, OA and tracheobronchomalacia.
He underwent corrective surgery, performed in Boston, USA by Dr Russell Jennings, in December.
“The foundation will continue its work in the TOF/OA awareness and treatment under the leadership of Kelly Caden and Ronel Horseman Pretorius, who have big plans to assist children and families affected by TOF/OA.”
