Tiny 920g prem baby makes miraculous recovery

A Mandeni mom is overjoyed to be able to take her baby boy home, having feared for his life since he was born three months prematurely in September last year.

Mom Thabisile Zama Zungu and dad Buhle Mavuso were a picture of happiness as doctors and staff at Netcare Alberlito Hospital gathered to bid farewell to the family, including baby Nkosinathi Mavuso, last Friday.

Nkosinathi was born weighing a mere 920 grams, when he was finally discharged from hospital late last week, he weighed a healthy 2,91 kilograms.

“As Nkosinathi was born so prematurely and doctors were initially so concerned for his survival, the first few weeks of his life were very stressful for us as a family,” said Zungu.

Also read: Bitter-sweet farewell for healthy baby Tayla Grace

Little Nkosinathi had to spend a total of three months in hospital, including over the festive season.

“We are so happy and grateful to finally take our precious boy home for the very first time,” his mother added.

Zungu’s ordeal started when she visited her gynaecologist for a routine six-month consultation in September, not expecting any problems. However, an ultrasound revealed that her baby had moved into a position that indicated that the birth was imminent and she was advised to seek urgent medical attention at a local hospital.

“I was in a state of shock and disbelief to hear that I was going to have to deliver my baby so prematurely; I think it was the saddest moment of my life. Nkosinathi was delivered just hours after we had first received the news.”

Doctors at the hospital tried to prepare her for the worst. Nkosinathi, however, proved to be a survivor and two weeks after his birth he was transferred to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital neonatal intensive care unit.

According to the hospital’s general manager, Dr Augusta Dorning, the doctors and staff at the facility became very fond of Nkosinathi and his family.

“Nkosinathi must be one of the smallest babies we have cared for,” said Dr Dorning.

“It was wonderful to see him steadily gather strength, to become the happy bouncing baby he is today, and to reach a point where he was strong enough to be discharged.”

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