“We found out when we went for the third scan,” Josiam recounts. “They said something wasn’t right.” The doctors in Plettenberg Bay could see that there was a problem with his unborn daughter, but they couldn’t see exactly what it was. Hoping for clarity, they referred Josiam and his girlfriend to Knysna, where the hospital had better ultrasound scanners. 

Josiam had just started his matric, and neither he nor his girlfriend were employed, but he was determined to care for his baby. Still reeling from the shock of the bad news, the couple spoke to their parents and immediately began making plans to get to Knysna. 

In Knysna, the ultrasounds were still not clear enough for doctors to make a definitive diagnosis. All they knew was that the problem was serious. This time, they referred the family to Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. There, the doctors suspected that the baby had a large growth in her neck. Further tests, however, revealed that the mass was actually on her tongue.  

Azalea’s birth was a whirlwind of emotions. “When they took her out, there were tons of doctors all around her,” Josiam remembers, his eyes widening. “They didn’t know if she would make it.” And then, beaming with delight and pride, he adds, “And look, she’s still with us!” Shortly after birth, Azalea was transferred to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Four months later, she is still there. She has never known life outside of a hospital. 

For Josiam and his girlfriend, those four months of Azalea’s life have been some of the hardest of their lives. The mass on Azalea’s tongue prevents her from drinking. At first, she had a nasogastric tube, but every feed put her at risk of drowning. Later, she had a PEG fitted, which allows her to be fed directly into her stomach. Her tongue, which protrudes from her mouth, needs constant care to keep it clean and moist. 

 Josiam shakes his head and sighs heavily. “The most difficult part is when she starts to bleed. We’ve struggled so much.” 

 As the months ticked by, Azalea continued the fight for survival. Her parents, meanwhile, were struggling with the reality of being far from home, cut off from family, and without any income. Summer turned to winter, leaving them without adequate clothing for the cold. The Family Care Project has provided Josiam with toiletries, warm clothing, and closed shoes, helping to make their lives a little easier as they wait for Azalea to grow big and strong enough to tolerate surgery. 

Azalea’s medical team is planning an operation to remove part of her tongue, which will hopefully give her some function back. “Hopefully, she doesn’t get an infection, so they can do the operation,” Josiam smiles wearily. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed and keep her in our prayers.” 

Josiam is a proud father devoted to caring for his daughter. He rarely leaves her side and has learned to feed and care for her, and even to stem her bleeding. He loves her fiercely and watching her suffer is devastating. Through the Family Care Project, you have helped to keep this family warm and given them hope. You have made an incredibly difficult time just a little easier, and you have helped to give baby Azalea one of the greatest gifts: a father who is able to stay by her side.