After nearly been a month in the King Nyabela Hospital, four-year-old Lisa Pretorius continues to face immense medical challenges due to semilobar holoprosencephaly, a rare and severe brain malformation.

She also suffers from Scoliosis and a fused spine, leaving her unable to sit, stand, crawl, walk or speak.

Her mother, Tanya, describes her daughter as a ‘true warrior’ who battles daily for basic comfort and safety.

Seizure emergency and hospitalisation

On January 17, Lisa suffered a massive epileptic seizure, stopped breathing, and was rushed to hospital by ambulance. After weeks of treatment, she was discharged from hospital on February 12, but her health remains extremely fragile.

Lisa now needs to return for a brain scan to determine how her brain has grown since birth and whether further complications have developed.

Ongoing medical and care needs

Although she is home, Lisa’s daily medical needs continue to escalate. Tanya must now provide:
• Specialised medical soap for Lisa’s eczema.
• Medical-grade milk and extra nutritional supplements.
• Specialised soft foods and purées.
• Special feeding bottles.
• Regular suctioning with a machine to clear her airways. This machine cost R3 546
• A special upright pillow for safe feeding and sleeping.
• Ongoing visits to her dietician, physiotherapist, speech therapist and the genetics clinic.

Lisa can only tolerate soft foods such as apples, pears, bananas, vegetables and puréed meats.

Transport challenges put her at risk

With no vehicle, Tanya must use public taxis to transport Lisa to all her appointments.
For a child with scoliosis and a fused spine, this travel is both painful and dangerous, yet unavoidable.

A mother supporting two children alone

Tanya is also raising a 12-year-old son who requires Schedule 6 medication, which she must pay for privately since the hospital does not supply it.

Between Lisa’s complex medical needs and her son’s chronic treatment, the financial strain has become overwhelming.

BackaBuddy: Community encouraged to help

Tanya is appealing to the Middelburg community for support. A verified BackaBuddy page has been created to help cover Lisa’s:

• Medical bills
• Specialised milk and food
• Transport costs
• Equipment, including feeding aids and suction supplies
• Brain scan (R33 479.83) and upcoming specialist visits
• Her son’s required medication.

Donate by clicking HERE

Supporters can join the WhatsApp update GROUP.
Tanya can also be contacted directly at 060 934 4532 or send an email to her on tanyapretorius787@gmail.com