Still a long road ahead for little boy
Little Logan Dyssel received his first operation when he was only 13 days old. Not long after that he was diagnosed with permanent brain damage, deafness and the inability to walk or talk
STEELPOORT – Little Logan Dyssel received his first operation when he was only 13 days old. Not long after that he was diagnosed with permanent brain damage, deafness and the inability to walk or talk.
Even though he is now a happy two-year-old, his mother, Sammy said there is a long road ahead for Logan. “While being in labour with Logan for eight hours in Mediclinic Polokwane, the doctor decided to do an emergency C-section. He was born on October 21, 2013, with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck causing him to turn blue due to a lack of oxygen. The following day the doctor sent me home with Logan, stating that he is healthy and fit to be discharged.”
A week later his grandmother, Ms Georgina Solomon, noticed Logan was struggling to breathe and said they should take him to the doctor for a check-up. He noted that Logan showed serious medical problems and that he should be admitted to a hospital as soon as possible. The family immediately drove to Johannesburg where he was taken to Sunninghill Hospital. By that time his oxygen levels were extremely low.
Soon after his admission he was diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect. When Logan was 13 days old in hospital, he received his first shunt implant and he and his mom had to stay in Johannesburg until he reached a weight of six kilograms before he could be discharged.
“When Logan reached seven months, a heart operation was done on him and for the next year his health was excellent, until three months ago when he suffered a severe seizure. The doctor tested his brainwave activity and we received the devastating news that Logan sustained permanent brain damage. The scan indicated white spots on the brain lobes and the doctor was not certain if he sustained the damage during birth or during the surgeries. Logan is a loving child with a big heart. He is always friendly and loves to meet new people. He is able to pull himself up against furniture, but cannot walk or talk. He is also completely deaf. I can see how frustrated he gets when he is unable to run or walk like Zayden, his older brother,” said Sammy.
Georgina said her children’s medical-aid fund was R12 million in arrears. “The doctor has created two earpieces that will be implanted in Logan’s head that will enable him to hear, but one of these alone costs R260 000 and the medical aid will only cover half the cost. Sammy travels once a week with Logan to Johannesburg for medical tests. He is also in need of a walker to assist him to start walking, but we do not have the financial aid to buy him one. Zayden is starting school next year and Sammy gave birth to my third grandson about a month ago. We are desperately in need of financial assistance to help Logan at least to live a quality life to the best of his ability. I am pleading with the community to assist him and his family,” she added.
If any community members or businesses would like to contribute towards Logan’s medical costs, contact Sammy on 071-485-3585.
