Update, 9 December at 11:15
December started off on a tragic, heartbreaking note for some.
In the Sandton Chronicle article, Help Baby Zarion, week ending 9 December, the desperate plea of baby Zarion Naidoo’s parents was highlighted.
Caldin and Salomé, had urged the public to assist them in any way possible with their son, who was born with a heart condition. Their little baby, who was only a few days old, was being treated at Sunninghill Hospital.
Sadly, on 8 December, the publication received a message from a family member which stated, “As at Sunday [4 December] Zarion’s lung was not performing too well. After his operation it seems that an infection set in, this then spread to his other organs causing him to go into multiple organ failure. Unfortunately, Zarion’s condition did not improve. His parents made the extremely tough decision to remove him off life support yesterday evening [7 December].”
Initial Story, 6 December at 9am
Caldin and Salomé Naidoo are the proud parents of Zarion, who was born on 21 November with a congenital heart defect called transposition of the great aArteries (TGA), and are pleading with the community to assist them financially.
After Zarion was born, all seemed to be going according to plan until doctors noticed that he had difficulty breathing. His parents explained that after tests were conducted, their child’s oxygen levels were recorded at 74 per cent, but the normal level is between 90 and 95 per cent.
Further tests were conducted and it was discovered that he was born with TGA. With this defect, the large vessels which carry blood from the heart to the lungs, and then to the body, are improperly connected. Essentially, the connections in the heart have been switched around.
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To complicate issues further, it was discovered that Zarion had two holes in his heart in the upper and lower chambers.
His parents highlighted the medical details and said, “An operation called an arterial switch is urgently required as well as other procedures in the next few days to give him a fighting chance at a normal life. This will be performed at Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg.
“As fate would have it, the medical scheme does not cover the costs of this which will cost about R1 million to R1.5 million, hopefully including the extensive after-care required and doctors’ fees [for the] surgeons, paediatricians and cardiologist.”
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Zarion’s parents are exceptionally thankful to their loved ones, whose generosity ensured that Zarion has stayed in hospital and received the medical care which he desperately needs. “Through the help of family, friends and personal loans we were able to come up with the lump sump to keep Zarion at Sunninghill. As such, his operation was scheduled for this past Monday, however, due to other emergency cases it was pushed out to 30 November.”
After a very long surgery, the parents felt exceptionally relieved as the procedure went very well. The days to follow are critical but they are remaining positive.
Unfortunately, Zarion’s health has a huge price tag attached. “So far we have an approximate cost of R1 million to cover the in-hospital after-care. An additional R500 000 is needed to cover the many loans [we] have taken as well as the doctors’ fees.”
The couple is humbly pleading with anyone willing to help them financially. “We have a short window to help him enjoy life as most of us have already. Your contributions, big or small, will be eternally appreciated and our words will never be a measure of just how appreciative we are.”
Details: Zarion.Naidoo@gmail.com
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