After defying death, young diabetic (13) still needs help
His mother thought he had a stomach bug. Hours later he was in a life-threatening coma.
When 13-year-old Norkem Park Primary School learner Vaughn Priem fell into a diabetic coma, he fought for his life.
He kept fighting while on life support – all this following his 13th birthday on July 12.
“He became ill overnight and I remember telling him ‘oh no, now you have a tummy bug on your birthday’,” his mother Cornel, told Express.
Only, it wasn’t a tummy bug. Within four hours Vaughn was rushed to a private hospital where he was stabilised. As the family has no medical aid, Vaughn waited more than five hours before a state hospital accepted him.
“By then, he was deeper into the diabetic ketoacidosis coma (when your body can’t produce insulin),” his mother said.
After Vaughn’s heart stopped, he was moved to the intensive care unit and placed on life support. “Praise the Lord, that Vaughn got better every day and there is no long-term damage from all the complications,” Cornel said.
Ever the fighter, a photo taken of Vaughn as he woke from the coma showed the little boy smiling and waving at the camera.
Now, the brave boy, who has been living with diabetes since he was seven, needs the help of the community to keep fighting.
“When Vaughn was released from hospital he was placed back on insulin pens because his insulin pump of five years broke,” Cornel explained.
The pump, which administrates insulin automatically, is ideal for young Vaughn. Without the pump, he must inject himself with insulin every time he eats.
“We don’t sleep, because we monitor him throughout the night,” Cornel said. “He is not doing well with his current treatment and is struggling to keep his diabetes under control.”
Due to financial setbacks and recent medicals costs, the family would like to appeal to the public to help them raise enough money to buy Vaughn a new pump, which costs R51 500.
“The pump will restore the little boy’s life to as normal as possible. He can go back to being the bubbly and funny boy he has always been,” Cornel added.
“Please help us to restore Vaughn’s childhood.”
Banking details: V Priem, Capitec, 470010, account 1547942760
