Born too soon and fighting for every breath, baby Xihluke’s tiny heart needed more than prayers… it needed people who believed in miracles. And that’s exactly what she got.
Johannesburg, South Africa (29 October 2025) – They say dynamite comes in small packages… and Xihluke is living proof. She may have been born early, but her story has been full of courage, compassion and the kind of medical teamwork that turns fear into gratitude.
Today, her tiny heart beats strong, echoing the sound of second chances.
Born prematurely at just 30 weeks, little Xihluke Mashimbyi entered the world with a congenital heart defect that threatened her life. For her parents, Oddette and Dzunisani, every day was filled with worry and prayer, yet also with unwavering hope.
“Xihluke’s name means ‘unique’, and she is our miracle angel,” says Oddette. “She is our second-born child, but it was a first for us to experience such health problems with a baby.”
From the moment she was born, Xihluke’s fragile heart demanded constant medical care.
“From birth, she had to remain on a ventilator in the intensive care unit, where I visited her every day to express milk,” Oddette remembers.
Feeding her was a delicate process, tiny spoonfuls of milk at a time, as her body struggled to gain weight. Tests at Steve Biko Academic Hospital soon revealed the cause: a hole between the chambers of her heart, known as a ventricular septal defect (VSD).
Her father, Dzunisani, recalls how devastating it was to hear those words.
“We were scared because the heart is so necessary for life. Our church community in Soweto was praying for our baby, and most of the people we know had never heard of something like this in such a small child.”
When it became clear that the hole in Xihluke’s heart would not close on its own, her doctors knew she would need a complex and time-sensitive operation.
“The problem of heart disease in children is huge, and the number of specialists who can treat it is unfortunately very small,” says Professor Lindy Mitchell, a paediatric cardiologist at Steve Biko Academic Hospital. “We applied to the Maboneng Foundation and the Netcare Foundation to help fast-track her surgery.”
That call for help was answered swiftly. The Maboneng Heart and Lung Institute at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital stepped forward, and Netcare’s CSI arm, the Netcare Foundation, pledged full support. Together, a dream team of doctors and specialists, including cardiothoracic surgeons Dr Lehlohonolo Dongo and Dr Martin Myburgh, paediatric cardiologist Dr Kenny Govendrageloo, anaesthetist Dr Stephanie Fischer, and Dr Erich Schürmann, co-founder of the institute, offered their expertise pro bono.
Dr Schürmann explains, “A VSD can cause irreversible damage to the lungs if not treated quickly. In Xihluke’s case, timing was everything. We needed to act fast to give her the best chance at a healthy future.”
In August, when Xihluke was just 10 months old, the delicate operation took place. Her parents held their breath, surrounded by prayers, faith, and an entire community rooting for their little girl.
“We were relieved that she was having the operation, but also terrified because she was so small,” says Oddette. “But our prayers were answered, Xihluke responded so well and recovered easily.”
In just three days, the Mashimbyi family walked out of the hospital with a new sense of hope. Their daughter, once fragile and fighting, was finally on the path to thriving.
“She started growing quickly,” Oddette smiles. “Her weight is so much better. She loves pumpkin and maize meal porridge with peanut butter and a bit of sugar.”
Dzunisani adds, “We thank God for the kindness and skill of the medical teams both at Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Netcare Sunninghill Hospital. We thank the doctors and nurses, and the Netcare and Maboneng Foundations, for giving our daughter this second chance at a full, healthy life.”
For Mande Toubkin, Netcare’s general manager of emergency, trauma, transplant and CSI, this story is a shining example of what’s possible when people and organisations unite for good.
“Working together through initiatives such as this, healthcare interventions can reach more children and change their lives. We encourage other organisations to consider the lasting impact that health-focused initiatives can have, not just on individuals, but on entire communities.”
Today, baby Xihluke is a happy, energetic little girl with a bright future ahead. Living proof that when compassion meets collaboration, miracles truly can happen.
For more information about the Maboneng Foundation, or to help other children like Xihluke receive lifechanging heart surgery, visit www.mabonengfoundation.co.za.
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