Meet Nasief

When little Nasief was six weeks old, he contracted pneumonia, and a urinary tract infection also developed. He was admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital at the time because Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital could not accommodate him. This was six years ago.

“They ran so many different tests, and little did I know what was in store for the two of us,” says his mom, Naeemah.

Slowly, Naeemah noticed that her baby boy wasn’t meeting certain milestones.

“Compared to his siblings, he didn’t do things as he developed.”

At first, she wasn’t too alarmed. But then she noticed that Nasief wasn’t smiling at the age of 3 months. And then the twitching started.

“I picked up on the twitching but didn’t know what it was. Nasief also had a very intense cry, like a shocking episode.”

Naeemah takes a breath.

“We came to Red Cross. They examined him, did an EEG, and admitted him immediately,” Naeemah’s pace is speeding up now. “And that’s when he was diagnosed with his condition,’ she continues.

Nasief was diagnosed with West Syndrome. At the time, he was just 4 months old.

The onset of West Syndrome is typically around 4 months of age. And to be diagnosed with West Syndrome, typically, all of the following factors must be present:

1. Infantile spasms begin as early as four months. These seizures are a form of epilepsy and typically include the stiffening of limbs and the arching or bending of the child’s back.
2. Loss of developmental milestones
3. Hypsarrhythmia, which is a highly irregular brain wave pattern measured on an EEG (electroencephalogram).

Since his diagnosis, Nasief has been attending clinics at Red Cross.

“He’s been here for therapy, like the physio, occupational therapy and speech therapy.”

Naeemah becomes a bit more animated. Her eyes light up as she shares about her beautiful boy’s progress.

“It was difficult in the beginning. Only time would tell about his development.”

Nasief started sitting at the age of two. He is yet to be verbal but is very communicative.

Undeniably, he is having fun playing and learning with his physiotherapist. The ball they are playing with begins to roll outside the therapy mat. Nasief watches it and quickly starts to move towards it. He is mobile. It seems so normal now, but it was a miracle long in the making.

Nasief is getting stronger every year. Nasief can move around, but he isn’t walking yet. He stands up against the mirror. The physiotherapist and occupational therapist are on either side of him. They’ve stuck some bath toys on the mirrored wall, and Nasief tries to reach for them.

“He’s very strong in picking up, gripping, and holding things,” his mom cheers.

Now seated, Nasief grabs hold of the ball. He is clearly enjoying this game. It may be called therapy, but for this little 6-year-old, it is sheer delight.

“It is a challenge, but I take every day as it comes. And, as I said in the beginning, I embrace his condition. So, yes, he’s really a blessing.”

With every visit to Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Nasief receives the blessing of support. Without the gifts of love and your prayers of charity, these blessings would not be able to manifest for our little ones.

With every throaty giggle, Nasief lets out, it is as if a prayer of gratitude and joy echoes through our world.

Every visit to Red Cross is a blessing of care, compassion, courage, and healing. It is nothing short of a miracle for these children.

Help us build Orthopaedic patients a 30-bed Orthopaedic Unit at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. 100% of your donations will go directly towards the project.