Meet Fayaad

Fayaad likes watching his older brother play soccer. Fayaad and his dad had watched his brother play in a tournament. It was fun and exciting; what every Saturday should be for a five-year-old boy.

The soccer field wasn’t very far from their Manenberg home, and after the match, they started to walk home.

It seemed as though the car came from out of nowhere.

There were many spectators that day, and parked vehicles made it difficult to see approaching traffic. Fayaad and his dad had to step into the road to see if it was safe to cross. The parked cars obscured their view. And then it happened in an instant. With no time to think and barely enough time to act, that split second would alter their lives. Suddenly Saturday became very scary and very sad.

Rifqa’s voice trembles as she speaks, almost to herself, “If his dad hadn’t pulled him out of the way as fast as he did, he would have been under the car”. The terrifying thought flickers across her face, and Rifqa quickly talks about how the soccer van was immediately hailed as an ambulance to take their child to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Emergency Centre, a 13 minutes drive.

Not too long ago, Rifqa brought her daughter to Red Cross after another hit-and-run involving a taxi. More than instinct made Rifqa insist that her children come to this hospital; it was knowledge and experience. This mother knew where to turn to for the care and support every child needs in times like these.

Within half an hour of arriving at Red Cross, Fayaad had already been seen by a doctor. Further X-rays showed that Fayaad had sustained an ankle fracture. His ankle was broken in two places. Rifqa grimaces, recalling how it pained her to see her son have his “little bones” manipulated to reset them properly. All she could do was explain to her baby that the doctor needed to do it; otherwise, his leg would not heal well. Her child begged her to take him home. Those are the moments when hearts are sunk.

Parents, especially, know what sinking hearts feel like. It’s not only their heart they feel but also their child’s. If she could take his pain, she would. This mother knew that for her son to get through this, she had to be his strength. She never left his side.

Within a few hours, Fayaad had a cast on his left leg, from his knee down, and the family were on their way home.

Rifqa warns parents to be extra vigilant. His accident happened while Fayaad was holding onto his dad’s hand.

Rifqa turns to speak to her son, “Fayaad, you’re a strong boy. You’re mommy’s hero, Fayaad”.

It will be a long while before Fayaad feels safe crossing a road again. Those are wounds we must heal as a community.

Fayaad will attend the orthopaedic clinics until doctors are happy with his healing.

Every time you donate towards building the new 30-bed Orthopaedic Unit at the Red Cross, you help a child regain mobility. 100% of all donations will go directly towards the project.