The Story of a little boy called Jaco....
Jaco was born on the 29th of August 2015.... An unexpected surprise! Everyone was grateful when all went well and although he was premature, he seemed healthy.... the third boy in the family.
Only after a few days did his mother instinctively start to get the feeling that he was different.... there was something strange and she started asking questions and her fears grew each day.... the paediatrician eventually agreed to do some blood tests....
After a few agonising weeks the confirmation came.... Jaco was indeed a Trisomy 21 Down's Syndrome baby.
The shock was immense...... from originally having a healthy baby; the parents were now facing an unknown and frightening future.... They were not familiar with Down's syndrome and had to start a journey of acceptance and commitment, of love and responsibility.... and learning every day of what the future of their baby may be.... The unknown of this special needs baby was very scary....
Jaco was not strong and very soon his mother, a bio kineticist, realised that he had a serious problem.... With his breathing and possibly his heart...... it seemed laboured and at times he turned blue. Again, she asked the paediatrician, who by now made her feel she was a rather neurotic mother.... When he went for his six weeks check-up.... she announced that Jaco had a serious heart defect and would need to see a Cardiologist. He confirmed that Jaco would have to undergo serious heart surgery before he was six months old. He would be operated on as soon as he had gained more weight and was strong enough.
There was only one surgeon that the parents felt was to be trusted with their little boy’s life.... but it meant traveling to Cape Town and they were not sure how that would be possible. Several miracles happened, and they were on their way....
On the 20th of January 2016 Dr Susan Vosloo performed a 5-hour operation at the Christian Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town and the family will always be so grateful to the doctors and staff there.... All went well, thanks to the skill and dedication of that amazing team. Jaco had to stay in ICU for nearly 4 weeks and another 2 weeks in hospital. Both parents had to take off work for that time and had no income.... but they stayed with him day and night.... wonderful friend helped with accommodation and transport and after he was discharged they returned home to Nelspruit.... with a mended heart!
It was a concern that he was so far from the doctors, but everyone was positive that he would make a full recovery.
The road to recovery was not easy but the weeks turned into months and little Jaco got stronger and now we knew he was given a second chance!
When he turned one year old, a wonderful friend and headmaster of a very special little nursery school offered his mother to take him into her "baby group".... Even though he would need exceptional care, she was prepared to help him and provide him with the chance.... He could also go to school with his brother a year older than him. The bond between them and the development of little Jaco was amazing and thanks to the teachers and wonderful staff of Hullabaloo, he could do the same things the children of his age was doing.... just a bit "slower".
There was and is just still one thing lacking - his therapies!
His parents are both self-employed. Jaco's father has been a Trails ranger in the Kruger National Park for the last sixteen years and works on a contract base, which means he is not sure of a stable income and his mother is a bio kineticist at Virgin Active. With two older children that also need care the family only have a very basic medical plan.
Jaco has just given his "first steps" but he urgently needs speech- and occupational therapy to help him. Downs Syndrome children need specialised therapies which is not always available in smaller centres.
He also needs to go back to the cardiologist in Cape Town for a final check-up.
Kind and generous people have helped along the way and the family cannot be grateful enough for small and big miracles....
Jaco's remarkable parents, Jannie and Hannelie, have become a strong support to so many young couples in their community and even in other countries across the world...
Jaco and his family's positivity have touched the hearts and lives of friends, family and even strangers!
