Good Morning Angels: The Angels gather for a baby boy abandoned at birth
The Good Morning Angels Festive Edition 2022 with Roman's Pizza continues as the Angels come together for baby 'Theunsie', who was abandoned at birth.
BACKGROUND: Nine-month-old Baby Theunsie from Vanderbijlpark had the most difficult start in life. He was born in a Wendy house next to a garbage dump to drug-addicted parents. He was found wrapped in a rag and hidden in a car wreck at the dump when he was just four days old. He was hungry and dehydrated, with insect bites covering his little body.
That’s when social workers phoned Anita Rademan. She and her husband, Fritz, are foster parents to 15-year-old Wesley and five-year-old Ethan and had no plans of taking in another child. They are already financially stretched, but their love is limitless, so within moments of meeting the little bundle weighing only 1.8kg, they had made up their minds - they were keeping Theunsie.
The new little addition to their family responded well to their nurturing and love, but at the age of three months, his health took a turn for the worst. Theunsie went into withdrawal from the drugs and alcohol in his system. He struggled to breathe and was rushed to hospital. Theunsie was diagnosed with asthma.
Doctors found a tumour on his vocal cords and his wind-pipe was only 1mm open. Surgeries were done and Theunsie was put on morphine and with his foetal drug-alcohol history, he went through withdrawal again. They thought they would lose him – but after 22 days in PICU, Theunsie pulled through. He will need more medical intervention and another operation, so the medical bills are piling up.
The community has rallied around Theunsie who has stolen many hearts with his sweetness and fighting spirit and that’s why they reached out to Good Morning Angels for assistance.
Watch the full episode here:
REQUEST FOR: Forster baby Theunsie from Vanderbijlpark
REQUEST FROM: Carina Pretorius
ANGEL: Carl Stoltzer representing our fabulous Festive sponsor, Roman’s Pizza
SPONSORING: Roman’s Pizza will assist Anita and Franz with R35,000 towards Theunsie’s many needs
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Good day Angels
“Theunsie” is the sweetest baby boy I have ever met. His story is heartbreaking and it is sad that such a small baby has to go through such trauma. I plead on his behalf for any help where possible. He is a fighter with a strong will. This loving little boy deserves all the love that he receives from his guardian family.
Please Angels, consider our plea and try and help our prayers.
It is so hard to ask for help, but we have no other choice.
Here goes … But let me tell you more …
My sister, Anita and her husband, Fritz live in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Vereeniging – Leeuhof. They both work at Mediclinic Vereeniging. They have three children in foster care:
Wesley 15 – has been living with them for 8 years
Ethan 5 – is her biological grandson and has been with them for 1 ½ years
Theunsie – 9 months old, in their care since he was 4 days old
Anita didn’t plan on taking in another child, as they are already financially stretched. But, when the social workers called and asked for a place for Theunsie, who was only 4 days old when he was found abandoned, she agreed to take him for the weekend.
Theunsie’s parents are drug addicts. They lived in a wendy hut near a dump site. He was found abandoned in an old car wreck, wrapped in a cloth nappy, with dogs. He was hungry and dehydrated and his little face and body was eaten by ants. He weighed only 1,8kgs. He had no suckling reflex and had to learn to suckle.
When Anita took the little bundle from the social worker, her heart melted. Fritz, her husband agreed on the spot – they will take him – come what may.
When he was three months old, Theunsie had severe alcohol and drug withdrawal and he became very ill – he couldn’t breathe. He spent 14 days in hospital with a collapsed lung and reflux. This was just the start.
Theunsie was diagnosed with asthma … more specialists, more breathing problems. He eventually ended up in Sandton’s PICU. The doctors found a tumour on his vocal cords and his windpipe was only 1mm open. Surgeries were done and Theunsie was put on morphine … with his drug-alcohol-foetal history, he will go through withdrawal again. They thought they will lose him – but after 22 days in PICU, Theunsie pulled through – a little fighter.
He will have to receive medical treatment and more surgeries until he is two.
My sister’s medical aid is maxed out and they refuse to give up on Theunsie.
My employer, Irene Smith and I are trying to handle all the medical bills and to raise funds. That’s why we are reaching out to the Angels for help.
Any help will be a blessing.
I have attached photos …
Warmest regards,
Carina
Tune in to the 'Breakfast with Martin Bester', weekdays from 06:00 - 09:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.