Meet Siyabongakonke

When she named him Siyabongakonke, she was unaware of the depth that this name would carry. Siyabongakonke means “we are grateful for everything”. And this very same gratitude fills Langa mom, Nomsa, as she reflects on her son’s healing journey.

Just over a month ago, Siya (6) complained of leg and body pains. He lost his mobility and he appeared listless and lethargic. Nomsa rushed her son to the Vanguard Day Hospital, where he was transferred to Somerset Hospital and subsequently to Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.

At Red Cross, he was immediately taken to the ICU department and was placed on a machine, unable to breathe or move independently.

Nomsa sheds tears of joy and gratitude as she looks at her son, now in a wheelchair showing significant mobility in his upper body. In the little wheelchair, Siya can move himself around because his arms have gotten stronger.

“God is good,” she says as she wipes the tears streaming down her face. She brightens as she watches Siya blow bubbles to physiotherapist, Eleonora Lozano.

Since moving from ICU to the BreathEasy Ward E2, Siya has received holistic medical treatment, including physiotherapy.

“He loves it when the physiotherapist comes in. He just lights up. I think he gets excited about playing. I also am encouraged when I watch him do his physio exercises. At some point, I didn’t think I would ever see my child catch or throw a ball. I never thought he could speak again, but now, I am hopeful. Hopeful that eventually, he will be able to walk again,” Nomsa says.

Eleanor, the physiotherapist, walks into the ward armed with balls, stuffed dolls and even a water bubble toy daily. Children develop critical physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills through therapeutic play. They heal through play.

For Siya, catching the bubble and throwing the beach ball, this helps in his healing journey.

Therapeutic play benefits about 10 000 physiotherapy patients and 9 000 occupational therapy patients at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. These little patients could benefit even more from the safe and stimulating new multi-purpose Therapeutic Play areas at the Hospital, where they can go outside and do what little ones do best.

Ideally, Siya could be working on a mat, but Eleanor and other physiotherapists must work in the wards due the ward not having a dedicated gym.  The Playground Project will help little ones like Siya and his mother to continue their treatments and exercises in multi-purpose Therapeutic Play Areas during their free time. 

On Siya’s development, Eleonora says: “He loves cars and playing with his mom. We would also like to start getting him to stand and learn how to walk again; all that would be improved with the new space and his mom would be able to take the lessons and play with him in a safe and purposeful playground area.”