Secunda-baby celebrates first birthday despite all odds
“It was a very emotional time for us, as we had no idea what to expect,” said Ms Opperman.
For the Opperman family, being able to celebrate baby Ruhandre’s first birthday can only be described as a true miracle.
Little Ruhandre was born prematurely at 24 weeks and weighed a mere 684 grams.
According to his mom, Ms Marlene Opperman, the doctor said his chances of survival were not good as the baby’s organs had not been fully developed.
“I had high-risk pregnancies with both my children and had to have cervical stitches to prevent my cervix from opening and resulting in premature births,” said Ms Opperman.
However she had picked up a bladder infection while pregnant with Ruhandre and on Saturday, October 31, 2020, she began experiencing contractions.
“By the Sunday I told my husband that something was wrong.”
Her husband, Mr Ruan Opperman, rushed her to hospital and despite doctors doing everything they could to stop early labour, Ruhandre was born by natural birth on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.
“It was a very emotional time for us, as we had no idea what to expect,” said Ms Opperman.
She said Ruhandre was so underdeveloped that his skin was still transparent and he was so small – not even a ruler’s length.
Ms Opperman was given a brief moment with Ruhandre before he was rushed to the NICU where he spent a month connected to a ventilator and drips to keep him alive.
On his second day in NICU, doctor’s told the Oppermans that Ruhandre was born with a defect where his oesophagus was not connected to his stomach.
For a month Ruhandre received intravenous feeding and on December 3, he was airlifted per helicopter to the Netcare Clinton Hospital in Alberton.
“Ruhandre had a lung infection before his transfer and he stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated en route to the Clinton Hospital.
“When he arrived at the hospital they battled for about three hours to stabilise him,” said Ms Opperman.
Because Ms Opperman could not travel with him in the helicopter, she had to make her way to the hospital by car while Mr Opperman stayed at home with their four-year-old son, Juanru.
At this time she had been experiencing a whirlwind of emotions and all she could do was pray that her baby would be fine and safe by the time she had arrived at the hospital.
However, when she got there, she saw about eight medical staff working on stabilising him.
“A doctor called me and instructed me to hold Ruhandre’s hand and speak to him. They were fighting for his life.”
X-rays later showed that he had a severely collapsed lung.
Ruhandre was stabilised and spent quite some time connected to a ventilator of which he was gradually weaned off.
But this was not all he had to endure in his prolonged stay in hospital.
He was diagnosed with laryngomalacia which is when the soft tissue of the larynx blocks the airway.
Ruhandre underwent two operations to correct it.
Because Ruhandre was intravenously fed for about two months, his stomach had to get used to the formula milk.
This took more than a month in small amounts of 2ml to 5ml per feeding.
Eventually, Ruhandre began to recover and gain weight. Both parents finally held him on 6 January 2021.
They took Ruhandre home on March 14 but this celebration was short-lived when, not even a day later, he stopped breathing.
Mr Opperman managed to revive him and the couple rushed Ruhandre to MediClinic Highveld.
It was then that doctors discovered Ruhandre was aspirating at feeding times (the formula entered his lungs).
Ruhandre was then transferred to MediClinic Santon where he underwent a couple of operations to insert a feeding tube and Nissans (tightening of stomach muscle) which would later be replaced with a more convenient mickey peg.
Due to sepsis infections and complications, he later underwent a colostomy operation.
He was finally discharged on May 23 after 201 days in hospital.
“It was like heaven on earth to bring him home. We had to pinch ourselves because it felt so unreal.
“We have no words to describe what we had gone through emotionally. We have a great support system and without God’s grace, prayers and love we would not have made it.
“So many angels have crossed our paths for which we are truly thankful,” said Ms Opperman.
Not all Ruhandre’s medical bills were covered by their medical aid.
With many follow-ups of various therapist visits ahead, Arms of Mercy began a fundraiser in the form of selling specially made bracelets.
Anybody who wants to contribute towards paying these medical bills, is welcome to contact Ms Marlene Opperman on WhatsApp on 072 139 0269.
