FOR seven years, an Amanzimtoti couple, Gustav and Michelle Greyling, lived with the reality that having children was a near impossibility. Their world changed in an instant when Michelle discovered she was eight weeks and six days pregnant.

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“To be told your son is a 1% miracle is a beautiful and overwhelming experience. For seven years we were told that conceiving a child was virtually impossible. We waited, we hoped, and we fought through the silence of those years until our little Finn Greyson Greyling finally made his way to us. He is our miracle in every sense of the word,” said Michelle.

With the suddenness of it all, the couple did not have months to plan or save and since finding out Michelle is pregnant, they have prioritised every cent to pay cash for gynaecologist visits and scans to ensure their baby boy is growing well.

“Our journey took a complicated turn at our 20-week scan. Our son was been diagnosed with Unilateral Right Club Foot, or Talipes Equinovarus. While treatable, he will require immediate medical intervention the moment he is born, including specialised casting and surgery to ensure he can one day walk and run,” said Michelle.

To make matters worse, the mum-to-be is suffering with severe high blood pressure, recently leading to an emergency hospital stay. Michelle explained that her medical team is concerned that the physical and financial stress she is under could lead to preeclampsia, a serious blood pressure disorder characterised by new-onset hypertension and often proteinuria or signs of organ damage.

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Symptoms include severe headaches, vision changes, and upper abdominal pain, with prompt delivery being the only cure. For natural birth, Michelle is due in June, but a C-section could mean delivery would come towards the end of May.

“We are hardworking people and we have tried everything to make this work on our own. Because our medical aid does not cover this pregnancy, we applied for various medical loans to cover these costs, but unfortunately, we were not successful in securing financial assistance. For a long time, it felt like we were in a losing race against time. With only two months left before our final deadlines, we are in a sprint to the finish. We have fought so hard for this 1% miracle. We just need some help to get him across the finish line safely so he can start his journey toward walking,” said Michelle.

The couple started a BackaBuddy to raise much-needed funds for their medical fees. For more information, contact Michelle Greyling on 064 669 1511 or email pretoriusmichelle16@gmail.com using the reference, “1% Miracle Enquiry”.

How you can help

• Donate towards their fundraising efforts at www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-our-1-miracle-baby-with-vital-medical-care.
• Share the above BackaBuddy.

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