Meet Gemma

“She is my miracle child because today she is here, and she can remember everything. They told me that the MRI scan showed that she would have no brain function and that she would be a vegetable.” Gemma’s mom’s eyes are wet with gratitude as she gazes at her daughter’s sweet face. 

12-year-old Gemma was a vibrant, adventurous and strong-willed girl who loved skateboarding and roller skating. Her life changed in a blink of an eye when her blood sugar levels escalated so high that it was almost impossible for doctors to get a reading.

Despite her health challenges, the brave girl fought to overcome a diabetic coma and most importantly, she fought to live another day. After 3 months of being hospitalised and what seemed to be impossible to the doctors, Gemma wheeled out of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Still weak and learning to strengthen her bones and muscles, Gemma smiles along with her mother whose heart is filled with gratitude.   

It was sudden, after an exhilarating time at the Rollercade with her best friend, when Gemma started developing a sore throat. Two days passed and her condition became progressively worse; she started to vomit. Her concerned mother immediately rushed Gemma to the nearest Emergency Room, which was at the Panorama Private Hospital, close to where they live. After assessing her, the medical staff and professionals informed Gemma’s mom that Gemma was diabetic and that her blood sugar levels were so high that they could not get a reading. 

The shocked mother had no idea that her daughter was diabetic; all these years, she showed no symptoms or signs that would have been indicative of diabetes. 

Gemma’s condition started to deteriorate. She had swelling on her brain and the doors of hope to her surviving were narrowing. The doctors at Panorama Private Hospital called the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, where the paediatric specialists are well equipped, familiar, and experienced with cases such as Gemma’s. 

It wasn’t long after their call that Gemma and her mother were on their way in an ambulance to the Children’s Hospital for specialist care and treatment. This brave girl was immediately taken to the state-of-the-art Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) where she stayed for 16 days on a ventilator and many other life-saving machines to help her recover.

“My heart dropped on day 15 when the doctors visited our bedside and told me to prepare because my little girl was not going to make it. I waited for a second opinion and after two days, Gemma started making remarkable progress and she began breathing on her own. The doctors then said she was not going to be able to eat, swallow or walk, she was going to be a ‘vegetable’, and now that she could breathe, she would likely need high-care (someone to take care of her 24/7),” said Gemma’s mom.

Gemma subsequently suffered two strokes and survived a heart attack. The incredible young girl defied the odds that were stacked against her.  Through physiotherapy, Gemma is learning to use her right side, which was affected by the stroke and she is learning to walk. 

Excitement built when news of Gemma’s discharge arrived and all she could think of was having her favourite Spur ribs and pizza as well as seeing her furry friend and being able to play soccer again. Through the continuous support of physiotherapy and therapeutic play, Gemma is strengthening her muscles and getting her mobility back.

Joining hands with the Children’s Hospital Trust out of gratitude, she has become a champion with her school principal and teachers behind her. Together, they are helping us raise awareness for the last R1 million needed to build magical Therapeutic Play areas in various departments at Red Cross Children’s Hospital. 100% of your donations will go towards this project to help little ones like Gemma!