LITTLE Brody van der Schyff’s parents have found a new treatment plan for his itchy skin which is renewing their hope, and they are appealing for help to raise funds.

Brody of Amanzimtoti has faced a harrowing two years fighting Charge Syndrome – Charge stands for coloboma, heart defects, atresia choanae, growth retardation, genital abnormalities and ear abnormalities – and other medical conditions, and as a result, his skin has taken the most strain, causing painful itchiness.

Also read: Baby Brody desperately needs your help

His mother, Samantha, said they have been in and out of specialists’ rooms, treating him for cellulitis, dermatitis and eczema, but nothing has helped ease his constant itch.

“It disrupts his day-to-day living and has affected his milestones over the last year. He spends the majority of the time in a bath trying to soothe his skin. He hardly ever gets a full night’s sleep as he is so itchy,” she said.

Their last hope to help bring him some relief is a new treatment called Dupixent. However, one session costs R25 000, and doctors recommend he be on it for a year.

“It’s a prescription medicine used to treat moderate-to-severe eczema which is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin, and you cannot use topical therapies on it. It is not a permanent solution as, unfortunately, there is no cure. Because of the chronic nature of atopic dermatitis, you must remain on Dupixent to continue the clinical benefits of the drug,” said his mother.

Also read: Hike to raise funds for baby Brody

The family is now desperately asking the community for help in order to give Brody a better quality of life.

“His little body has been through so much – he has overcome many surgeries for his various conditions, and to see him suffering like this shatters our hearts. We have had many bloody sheets and countless sleepless nights. All we can do is pray that this is the answer we have been looking for. Together, we can give little Brody a fighting chance at a pain-free life,” said Samantha.

His family has set up a challenge – encouraging 500 people to each donate R50 towards his next session.

For more information, visit the Facebook page, Brody in Charge. Alternatively, donations can be made into the following bank account: Capitec Bank, Account name: S Venter, Branch code: 470010, Savings account number: 1637374427, Reference: Dupixent.

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