Trauma does not discriminate. Traumatic events are sadly not only restricted to adults – in many instances, children find themselves being direct or indirect victims of trauma. Incidents range from a child suffering an injury due to a fall to a child who experiences a car accident or endures some form of abuse.
Children are the most vulnerable to trauma since most aspects of their bodies, minds, and brains are still developing. Many studies have shown that the impact of trauma at the early stages of development can have long-lasting effects on a child’s personality, behaviour, and mental health.
Those who have experienced trauma have difficulty expressing and managing emotions and may internalize them, causing potential anxiety, developmental issues, or prolonged distress. Six year old, Luseko Sixishe displayed disturbing changes in his behaviour that set off alarm bells after suffering a severe brain injury. What should have been a day of fun and laughter became a nightmare for Luseko when he was knocked over by a car, while innocently playing outside his house.
After the car accident, Luseko’s mother, Ntembentsha Sixishe, rushed him to the nearest local clinic for an examination.Luseko was discharged almost immediately, because he had no visible external and physical injuries. However, after a couple of days, his mother started noticing sudden behavioural changes in her son.
“I noticed that he would keep quiet for long periods. He stopped speaking, struggled to sleep, and seemed to be in constant pain – even though he had no visible injuries. His exposure to that traumatic incident impacted him emotionally” – describes Ntembentsha.
Trusting her maternal instinct, quick-thinking Ntembentsha took her son back to the local clinic. They transferred him to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital immediately. Upon arriving at the hospital, Luseko underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam (a painless, non-invasive radiology scan that helps doctors diagnose or treat a disease or injury). The exam revealed a fractured bone in Luseko’s brain, which induced internal bleeding in his brain – they had to start operating on him without delay (brain bleeds are extremely life-threatening and can result in brain damage). Doctors managed to locate the fractured bone, remove it, and stopped the bleeding. Currently, there is no confirmation of the long-term effects of the surgery, however, his mother’s instinctual persistence and the quick response of the doctors most certainly saved Luseko’s life.
After a child suffers a traumatic event, their mental and emotional state should be every parent’s top priority. Fortunately, Ntembensha monitored her son and picked up the shift in his emotional state, prompting her to seek further help. Luseko is recovering very well at the hospital and cherishes the love and support he gets from his mom and the caring staff at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. And the trust that he has developed in his mother and in the staff at the hospital will have a positive impact on healing his trauma for years to come.
