Angel steals Albertina Sisulu's heart
2010-10-22 09:53
Antoinette Pienaar, Beeld
Johannesburg - A baby who was found abandoned in a stormwater pipe a year ago, was an honorary guest at the 92nd birthday party of Albertina Sisulu, widow of struggle veteran Walter Sisulu, in Sandton on Thursday.
The newborn baby had survived, even though someone had tied plastic bags over her small body from both sides to ensure she couldn't breathe.
A week ago, the child - named Angel - became the 400th baby to receive free heart surgery thanks to financing by the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa.
Hole in her heart
Heleen Haasbroek, manager of the Villa Le Themba home for babies with special needs in Kempton Park, said a policewoman sped to a private hospital with Angel shortly after she was found.
Doctors established that she had a little hole in her heart, but as she weighed so little they had to wait a year for her to weigh 5kg so that she could be strong enough for surgery.
"She was operated on last Tuesday (in the Sunninghill hospital).
"Her stitches have not yet come out and she is still shy around people because she is scared they will hurt her," said Haasbroek during Sisulu's party, where the little girl sat on her lap.
Angel celebrated her first birthday on October 7, but can't sit up yet.
Initially it was thought that she was weak because of the heart defect, but it is now feared that she sustained brain damage as a foetus, presumably because her mother wanted to hide the pregnancy and perhaps tied rags around her body.
Adoption
The plan is to put Angel up for adoption, but doctors first want to test her brain functioning to establish the extent of her developmental needs for those who will give her a home.
According to Lynda Bleazard, executive head of the heart foundation, 95% of all congenital heart diseases are treatable.
In South Africa, less that 20% of the children that need it receive corrective heart surgery.
The State has a waiting list of 2 800 children.
- More information about the foundation is available at www.wspcca.org.za or SMS "HEART" to 38208 to donate R10.