Ayden van Tonder was born on June 7 (yesterday) weighing only 850g, and with his lungs not fully developed yet, he will need to remain in the Neonatal ICU of Life Midmed Hospital for the next two to three weeks.

According to Ayden’s mother, Chané Janse van Vuuren, they do not have a medical aid and Ayden cannot be moved because his condition is too critical.

Chané’s husband, Elijah van Tonder, rushed her to the Middelburg Provincial Hospital when she started bleeding.

Several hours after her admission, Chané called her husband in pain fearing for her own life and the life of her unborn baby.

“I was curled up in pain and bleeding a lot, and we initially thought I was having a miscarriage,” Chané explained.

Elijah took Chané to Life Midmed Hospital where baby Ayden was born, and has since received treatment.

“He is too high risk to move, and his lungs aren’t fully developed yet.”

According to Chané, the three week stay in Neonatal ICU will amount to a total of R600 000.

The couple have to pay a deposit of R180 000 by Monday.

A BackABuddy profile has been opened to help raise funds for Ayden’s hospital stay.

Anyone wishing to contribute directly to Life Midmed Hospital’s account can do so using the reference: baby Ayden.

Ayden’s BackABuddy profile can be viewed here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/baba-ayden