UPDATE: ‘There is nothing we can do to save her’ – Stanger Hospital

The mother of the five-year-old Maphumulo girl who was recently asked to remove her child’s breathing tube by Stanger Hospital has refused, with the hope of a miracle for her child.

Nomusa Khuzwayo was told that nothing further can be done to save her child.

The unconscious Nosipho Dube was discharged from Stanger hospital three months ago and her mother was told there was no hope of survival.

Her mother was told to change her child’s breathing and feeding tubes herself and that Nosipho would probably die a day after.

However, the child is still alive and she opened her eyes last month.

Also read: Outpouring of care for Maphumulo family

In April, Nosipho was diagnosed and treated for TB.

Showing no sign of improvement the little girl was transferred to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital where a scan showed that she did not have TB but had fluid on the brain, pointing to brain cancer.

She underwent an operation which was unsuccessful and a breathing and feeding tube was inserted and was transferred back to Stanger Hospital. Later she was told to take the child home.

Since Khuzwayo approached the Courier with her story, Stanger Hospital medical staff have visited her home, given her instructions on the care of Nosipho – which was wanting before – and arranged for a retired nurse to help Khuzwayo.

She was then called to a meeting earlier this month which has left Khuzwayo angry and bitter.

“There was a meeting on Monday, August 6 between me, my family and hospital staff including the medical manager, Dr Gustavo Lopez. I was asked to remove the tubes because there was nothing to be done to save my child. I was very angry about that and walked out of the meeting.

“I will not remove the tubes, it will be like I am killing her,” said Khuzwayo.

The hospital asked a retired nurse last month to regularly visit Khuzwayo and assist in changing the tube.

The retired nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, said she received a call from Khuzwayo crying because the feeding tube had blocked and she did not know what to do.

“I quickly rushed to her house and helped her. I think when the hospital heard about that, they then contacted me and asked if I could regularly check on Nosipho. I happily agreed to help free of charge.”

Health department spokesperson Ncumisa Mafunda confirmed that there was a meeting at Stanger hospital, to update the family on the Nosipho’s condition.

“An ambulance transported the patient to a hospital while other transport was arranged for family members, to be updated on the patient’s condition at the hospital. In addition to the palliative care team from Stanger Hospital, a palliative care specialist from Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital was invited to assess the patient and counsel the family on the severity of the patient’s condition. The patient will continue to receive medical care at a household level with the assistance of a community nurse and when required, transported to the hospital,” said Mafunda.

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