WATCH: Ruaché celebrates her first birthday at home
Mari said it was an honour to celebrate her very first Mother's Day
It is safe to say that Glen Marais couple Johan and Mari Botha were the happiest parents in the world when they celebrated daughter Ruaché’s first birthday on May 15.
“We hosted an online birthday party where everybody sang for her and we blew out the candles together. Everybody attending also sent a photo with one word that described how they felt about Ruaché. We will make an album of this celebration,” Mari told Express.
Her birthday marked a year of sheer will, determination and life-threatening circumstances for both mother and baby when Mari had no choice but to undergo induced labour at 26 weeks in order to save Ruaché’s life.
When talking about Johan, Mari said: “He is very relieved and grateful that it is over and he still has both the women in his life with him.”
The little trooper stunned her parents and doctors when she was able to go home on April 9.
Mari was proud to announce that her daughter’s growth had skyrocketed. “She is getting much more stimulation and parental love which plays a huge role. She loves being home and has developed a personality. We love to see each little new thing she discovers.”
Ruaché now weighs 5.4kg and is 64cm long, which means she has gained 1,1kg since her homecoming. Just to think she weighed a meagre 440g at birth.
“She started eating solids and loves it. She still gets her food through a ‘mick-key’, but we are trying to get her to eat orally.”
Taking care of a baby suffering from respiratory distress syndrome at home, has its highs and lows. “I think we are managing very well. It is quite tricky with all the machines and I think everybody has tripped over cables and pipes but we will get there. Soon she will be without them.”
Although the Bothas have achieved Kilimanjaro-heights together, there is still a long road ahead because of Mari’s lupus. Her kidney function at the end of last year was only nine per cent.
“I still go for dialysis twice a week and have recently admitted my application for a kidney transplant. As soon as the medical aid approves my transplant, I will go through a series of tests.”
Mari said it was an honour to celebrate her very first Mother’s Day.
“I was awestruck and overwhelmed. It was so amazing to know we have made it this far and will celebrate many more together. I never thought we would have the privilege of celebrating it at home and daddy made it very special for us.”
