The mother of a six-week-old baby is begging authorities to release the body of her infant who died last week and says she’s been kept in the dark about the cause of death.
Red Cross Children’s Hospital has confirmed that an investigation is under way before the body can be released to the family.
Little Zoe-Lee Swartz was born on 17 April at Retreat Day Hospital without any complications.
Her mother, Rene Swartz, 18, from Parkwood, believed the infant had constipation and gave her boiled water to drink, and took her to the day hospital when she was three weeks old.
ANSWERS: Rene and her baby Zoe-Lee Swartz
On 26 May, Zoe-Lee had difficulty breathing and was rushed to the day hospital again where Rene claims the infant “died twice in her arms”.
“She had difficulty breathing and cried,” she says.
“I began to breastfeed her and after that we walked around the back of the hospital, to enter the place.
“I opened the blanket and saw that her nose was bleeding and blood was also coming from her mouth. Toe is sy dood.”
She says doctors managed to resuscitate her baby and moved her to the trauma unit.
“Then she passed away in my arms again in trauma and they managed to bring her back again.”
The baby was then transferred to Red Cross where she passed away four days later on 30 May.
Both Rene and Zoe-Lee were tested for Covid-19 and were negative.
ANSWERS: Baby Zoe-Lee Swartz
Rene claims doctors at Red Cross gave different diagnoses.
“They said it was her lungs, three doctors said so. Then on Saturday another doctor said it was her liver and another said she was born with a liver
disease.
“We still do not have answers and they are not giving us her body and said we need to speak to social workers. They are waiting on a police case number
they say, maar die kind was nie vermoor nie.”
Rene claims doctors at Red Cross gave different diagnoses. Video: Genevieve Serra
Red Cross spokesperson Dwayne Evans says: “We can confirm that the body has been dispatched to Salt River Mortuary for necessary investigations before being released to the family.”
SAPS’ FC van Wyk says an inquest case has been opened.