{"id":115331,"date":"2018-05-23T07:53:20","date_gmt":"2018-05-23T05:53:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/born-at-33-weeks-under-challenging-circumstances-baby-joshua-needs-our-help\/"},"modified":"2018-05-23T07:53:20","modified_gmt":"2018-05-23T05:53:20","slug":"born-at-33-weeks-under-challenging-circumstances-baby-joshua-needs-our-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/born-at-33-weeks-under-challenging-circumstances-baby-joshua-needs-our-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Born at 33 weeks under challenging circumstances, Baby Joshua needs our help."},"content":{"rendered":"

Born at 33 weeks under challenging circumstances, Baby Joshua needs our help.<\/a>: <\/p>\n

\"Joshua<\/p>\n

Joshua Naicker (22 months old) from Midrand, Johannesburg, was born at only 33 weeks old with challenging circumstances Photo: Backabuddy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Joshua Naicker (22 months old) from Midrand, Johannesburg, was born at only 33 weeks old with challenging circumstances. The circumference of his head measured 45 cm, a length greater than his body, due to tremendous fluid on his brain.<\/p>\n

Proud parents, Phillecia (29) and Bradley (36) were elated to welcome their first born into the world after 5 years of marriage and with uncomplicated family medical history, they could not have anticipated the difficult road ahead.<\/p>\n

Baby Joshua was diagnosed with congenital Hydrocephalus, more commonly known as \u201cwater on the brain\u201d. This relentless and incurable disease currently affects 1 in every 500 babies globally.<\/p>\n

At only 10 days old Joshua had already undergone his first brain surgery and spent the first two months of his life in Neonatal ICU, where he received a number of plasma blood transfusions to compensate for hemorrhaging large amounts of blood. He has since been fitted with a shunt (a thin piece of plastic tubing with a catheter), which drains the fluid from his brain to his stomach<\/p>\n

As a result of this rare disease Joshua has developed a number of serious conditions namely Cerebral Palsy (Hemiplegia), severe Cortical Visual Impairment, Hip Dysplasia, Epilepsy, Chiari Malformation, Scoliosis, missing Septum Pellucid, global developmental delay and hypertonia.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has had a total of 5 operations in his short existence, 3 of them being brain surgeries, uncountable hours of therapy and doctors appointments. His daily activities are so challenging and he cannot perform any tasks independently such as sitting, standing, crawling, playing, eating or drinking.\u201d \u2013 says Bradley.
Despite his challenging circumstances, Bradley is described as a bubbly child, who loves affection.
\u201cHe has the most beautiful smile, a smile that can capture anyone’s heart. He exudes love and happiness. He has the true heart of a warrior.\u201d \u2013 says Phillecia<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has come such a long way and is getting very close to sitting and crawling each day. He is beating the odds and with the right treatment and therapy has a chance at developing normally.\u201d \u2013 adds Bradley<\/p>\n

With unexpected mounting medical costs, Bradley\u2019s parents have appealed to the public for support and set up a campaign on donations-based crowdfunding platform BackaBuddy hopes to fund raise a total of R400 000 for Joshua to undergo Stem Cell Therapy at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

\u201cStem cell treatment will help him have a better quality of life and we are hoping it will specifically help with his vision, as he is practically blind. Stem cells have the ability to regenerate and repair the damaged brain cells. Duke University has performed thousands of stem cell infusions specifically for children born with this condition. We are hopeful that the procedure will eliminate at least one of Joshua\u2019s conditions\u201d \u2013 says Bradley<\/p>\n

Breakdown of medical costs:
\u2022 The estimated total cost of the first stem cell treatment will be around R344 700 allowing for exchange rate fluctuations or an approximate 10 per cent increase
\u2022 Banking and processing the stem cells for infusion: R20 460
\u2022 HLA-typing of both siblings to confirm a match: R6 507
\u2022 Transporting the stem cells to America: R26 300
\u2022 Infusion of stem cells: R216 100
\u2022 Transportation and accommodation in America: R44 000<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the time Joshua was born we have done our best to manage this extremely difficult and expensive situation on our own, but the financial toll on our family has been overwhelming and we need help. We cannot express our gratitude to everyone who has supported out BackaBuddy campaign. Donors have given our boy a chance at a life where he will encounter far less challenges\u201d \u2013 says Phillecia.<\/p>\n

Joshua\u2019s campaign has thus far raised R45 498 towards his fundraising goal of R400 000 with contributions from 64 donors.<\/p>\n

To contribute Joshua\u2019s medical campaign by donating here:
https:\/\/www.backabuddy.co.za\/hope-for-joshua<\/p>\n

Joshua\u2019s video appeal: