A single mother of two needs help raising R200 000 to send her son to India for possible life-changing surgery.
Tragedy hit in October last year when little Hakim Swarts, three, was playing in the yard and fell into the family pool.
Mom Tasneem Swarts, 31, says doctors declared her son to be in a vegetative state after he suffered brain damage due to a lack of oxygen, but the family believes her son will regain full consciousness with the help of innovative stem cell surgery in India.
She says although Hakim “hated” their pool, it was the first place they looked when they realised he had gone missing.
“My sister immediately jumped in and took him out,” Tasneem explains.
Hakim was rushed to hospital and six weeks later doctors told the family there was nothing more they could do for him.
“They were basically telling me my child would be a vegetable for the rest of his life.
“I refused to believe those doctors because he was still moving his finger,” the mom says.
Hakim was transferred from N1 City Netcare to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and then Auckland Park Hospital in Johannesburg in the hopes of a breakthrough.
ASSIST: Hakim Swarts, three
“Hakim has to be fed through a feeder through his stomach. He looks around and is conscious, but does not respond.
“He is currently getting speech, occupational and physical therapy,” Tasneem says.
Tasneem says the monthly costs for Hakim, including his carer, is over
R10 000.
She has since heard about stem cell transplants.
In Hakim’s case, stem cells will be taken from his body and fed into the spine where it is hoped they will repair or replace damaged nerves.
“This could help Hakim to speak, walk, crawl, roll and move voluntarily,” says the mother.
“We really are hoping to get to India for this miracle. I just want my jolly toddler back.”
On Saturday, they are hosting a family day at the Goodwood Anglican Club, behind the rugby club.
Children under 12 enter free, while teens pay R30 and adults R50.