By Neo Kolane
The impecunious family of a Ha Abia toddler with a rare medical condition is making an impassioned plea for a Good Samaritan to come to their rescue by donating food.
The 13-month baby was born with a cleft palate, also known as cleft lip, on January 31 2022. Her condition has cleaned out the household’s resources, leaving the family in dire need of food supplies and funds to undergo surgery to correct her rapidly deteriorating health.
Cleft palate and cleft lip are openings or splits in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate) or both. Cleft lip and cleft palate result when facial structures that are developing in an unborn baby don’t close completely.
The baby’s distraught mother, ‘Makabelo Nako told theReporter that they have made numerous visits to Univeristas Hospital in Bloemfontein South Africa seeking medical help.
‘Makabelo says she was told by doctors that her daughter Tlhohonolofatso is underweight (7.1kg) and was not in a position to undergo any form of surgery. She was told the child needed to weigh 9kg for a medical procedure to be conducted.
“Tlhohonolofatso was scheduled to be operated on March 16 but upon arrival at the hospital, we were informed the doctors in that country were on strike; we are still waiting anxiously,” she said.
The 30-year old mother says both she and her husband are employed, and have no means to provide for their sick child.
‘Makabelo, who used to work as a security guard, said her husband was retrenched shortly after the arrival of their daughter, thereby throwing the entire family down the abyss.
She could not believe it when the nurses at Qoaling Clinic, where the infant was born, showed her the child. She was dumbfounded.
“From the bottom of my heart, I wondered what went wrong, I sometimes tried to put the separated lips together hoping that they would eventually merge.
“When she was born, it was hard coming to terms with how she looked. I would always hide her face especially during her vaccination visits to the clinic and when close relatives came to visit.
“It took me a long time to accept. At times she would have difficulty breathing. She could not breathe properly.
“Feeding was also a challenge, especially swallowing. Some liquids would just come out through her nostrils because her upper lip is split; she has to be watched at all times.
Tlhohonolofatso also has a hearing problem that is believed to have been caused by the cleft palate. If not treated she will develop chronic ear infections. This is because babies with cleft palate are especially at risk of developing middle ear fluid and hearing loss.
‘Makabelo cannot go to work even if she wanted to, as she has to attend to the child 24 hours a day.
“I cannot work. I do not think other people can cope with Tlhohonolofatso’s condition, especially her facial features. No one else will be able to take care of her like me because I am her mother,” she said.
‘Makabelo visited different local radio stations and different political parties’ offices asking for help. She was helped by one radio personality who facilitated the baby’s visit to a hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Well-wishers contributed money for both transport fare and food stuffs.
