Daily Voice readers from as far as New Zealand have opened their hearts to little Lemicah Arendze, a baby with a rare swollen head condition.
Last week the Daily Voice brought you the heart-wrenching story of the six-month-old Delft girl born with Hydrocephalus, a condition where excess fluid in the brain leads to the head growing abnormally large.
Three weeks ago, her head had swollen to 96cm in diameter before she underwent surgery at Tygerberg Hospital, where a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was placed inside her head.
Since the operation, her head size has shrunk to 83cm.
Lemicah lives with her mother, Rozanne, her father, her grandmother and her three siblings aged 12, six and three, in a three-bedroom home.
Rozanne, 30, is not able to work and has to care for her special baby 24/7 while her boyfriend works as a courier.
After Lemicah’s story was published on Wednesday, kind readers opened their hearts and wallets.
Generous mense donated R2 900 in cash which Rozanne will use towards medical costs.
She also received baby formula, nappies, toiletries, a gas heater and gas.
Video: Saafia February/Daily Voice
Readers also expressed their concern on social media, sending encouraging messages to the young mom.
Rozanne told the Daily Voice that Lemicah was the little girl she always wanted and that she is trying hard to make life as comfortable as possible for her.
“I want to say thank you to everyone, from the phone calls to messages and encouragement, it means a lot. Words cannot express how I feel,” she says.
“Lemicah received R2 900 in cash which we will use for her medical needs. She received items from a woman who also has a disabled child. She also received nappies and Purity products, a heater and gas cylinder.”
Rozanne says since the shunt implant, Lemicah’s condition has started to improve.
“Like I said, I want to make life comfortable for her and the heater will help to make the house a bit warmer for her,” she adds.
“We do not want to name each and every person who has helped us, but rather to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
If you would like to assist, contact Rozanne on
074 253 3296 or 081 584 7937.