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HELDERBERG RESIDENTS have rallied in support of Marinus Rossow and his parents, Marisia and Etienne, following an appeal for help about six weeks ago. Marinus, a three-year-old from Somerset West, was born with a disease of the large intestine, known as Hirschsprung's Disease (HD).

If not diagnosed and treated, the condition which results in limited bowel movement, can cause infection, the bursting of the intestine and even death.

Marinus was not correctly diagnosed until he was 2½-years-old and became so ill that he ended up in hospital.

His parents were referred to Professor Robin Brown, a paediatric surgeon at Vincent Pallotti who diagnosed HD. Two operations followed.

The family only had a limited hospital plan and their financial plight so moved three other mothers - Linda van den Berg, Natasha van den Berg and Debbie van Wyk - from the Over the Moon Pre-School in Lourensford Road, where Marinus is a learner, that they formed a trust fund and started a fundraiser to help the family meet their huge financial obligations.

"Thanks to the public, we have managed to raise a sum of R44 682, which far exceeded our expectations of R16 774," Debbie said this week.

"In retrospect, we can only thank God for his provision through you, because the total expenses eventually amounted to R23 061. These expenses include unsettled bills from the first operation to fit a colostomy bag in April; the cost of the second operation to remove the colostomy bag and repair the colon on September 27; and an emergency procedure to remove another blockage on November 8, also consultation fees for examinations by specialists."

The Rossow family have managed to pay off all the medical expenses.

The remaining balance in the Marinus Rossow Fund is currently R21 620 and the Rossow family's desire is to help another family in a similar situation.

However, they have been advised to wait, as it is common for blockages to develop within the first two years of the operation to repair the colon, as happened during November.

Marinus also needs to go for follow-up consultations with the specialist and must use food supplements and special creams.

His parents would also like Marinus to attend a few sessions of Play Therapy, as he needs to learn to manage his frustration and anger appropriately.

Says Debbie, "Marinus is now able to make a full recovery and will be able to develop and grow to his full potential. He is now able to be a typical three-year-old boy, who loves to play, run, laugh and challenge authority."

The Rossow's would, from their own experience, like to warn other parents of the symptoms of HD. Newborns with HD don't have their first bowel movement when they should.

These babies may also throw up a green liquid called bile after eating and their abdomens may swell. Discomfort from gas or constipation might make them fussy. Sometimes, babies with HD develop infections in their intestines. The symptoms in young children vary. Most children with HD have always had severe problems with constipation. Some also have more diarrhoea than usual. Children with HD might also have anaemia, a shortage of red blood cells, because blood is lost in the stool. Also, many babies with HD grow and develop more slowly than they should.

Like in younger children, teenagers and adults with HD usually have severe constipation all their lives and may also have anaemia.

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