Meet the little boy who cannot eat, and now people are raising R1.5 million to help Aaron Lipschitz lead a normal life.
So far, just over R1.2 million has been raised for the three-year-old via crowdfunding site BackABuddy.
Aaron is the first South African to be diagnosed with Interleukin-12 Receptor Defect, a rare incurable disease that affects his immune system.
Out all the cases worldwide, Aaron is the only child who is unable to consume food.
His parents initially thought their infant was allergic to breast milk protein, but soon found that all food and formula, with the exception of water, caused him severe pain.
During the first two years of his young life, Aaron had to take a pancreatic pill called Creon in order to digest a pricy formula known as Neocate, which he could only drink every two to three hours.
But as he became older, the need for nutrition grew and he is now being fed through catheters which are normally used for patients in a coma.
For Aaron to lead a relatively normal and healthy life, he will require multiple sessions of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and specialist care to build his new immune system.
Mom Taryn says they are unsure what caused the illness.
“It’s still so difficult to process. We are an average couple without any significant medical
history, so to have such a unique child has surprised us,” she says.
Aaron needs R1.5 million and his parents, Steven and Taryn, appealed for help via BackABuddy.
So far R1 245 350.57 has been raised.
You can register as a bone marrow/stem cell donor via
sunflowerfund.org.za.