Baby Rose has defied the odds post-heart surgery and emerged as a swimming sensation!
South Africa (16 March 2024) – Baby Rose, a resilient South African tot, is fast becoming known as a swimming sensation after undergoing delicate open-heart surgery at just 11 weeks old.
Despite facing the daunting challenges associated with her rare medical condition, Rose dove headfirst into the waters of Virgin Active’s Learn to Swim program at the tender age of 4-and-a-half months. For her parents, Roger and Louise, the decision to introduce Rose to swimming was not only a means of aiding her physical development but also a source of hope and optimism in the face of adversity.
In the aftermath of her life-saving surgery, Rose’s inability to engage in traditional ‘tummy time’ posed a significant hurdle to her overall growth and development.
Tummy time – time spent playing on the belly, with their heads upright – is vital for any baby’s development. It’s the only form of exercise that very young babies can practice, and is essential for their overall physical growth, ensuring healthy development of babies’ neck, shoulder, and arm muscles. It also helps them learn spatial awareness, visual coordination, and motor skills. Tummy time is the closest tiny babies get to engaging with the world ‘horizontally’ as we adults do. It’s a key developmental step that paves the way for sitting up, crawling, and eventually, walking. Also, to prevent flat spots on the back of the head, it’s vital that infants aren’t lying down on their backs all the time.
However, the nurturing environment of the water provided her with the freedom to move without discomfort, catalysing her physical growth and minimising any post-operative delays.
Central to Rose’s progress was her dedicated swimming instructor, Elmarie Nel, whose innovative approach and compassionate care ensured Rose’s comfort and safety in the water. By tailoring swim holds and activities to accommodate Rose’s unique needs, Elmarie fostered a special bond that continues to light up the pool with joy and laughter.
For Roger and Louise, witnessing Rose’s newfound confidence and joy in the water has been nothing short of miraculous. Reflecting on her transformation, they marvel at the unexpected physical and emotional benefits of swimming for their daughter.
“We didn’t realise that learning to swim would be so beneficial, both physically and emotionally, and great fun at the same time. We can see such huge developments in her confidence, in and out of the water,” says Roger and Louise.
As Rose continues to make strides in the pool, her parents have become passionate advocates for ensuring that every child in South Africa has access to swimming lessons. With drowning being a leading cause of unnatural deaths in the country, Roger and Louise are committed to raising awareness about the importance of water safety and swimming education.
Her infectious joy and indefatigable spirit are inspirational. The ripples of her laughter and the splashes of her tiny hands vividly remind us that there is always hope, even in the darkest moments of despair.
Looking ahead, Roger and Louise wonder whether little Rose will develop a lifelong love for swimming and perhaps even follow in the footsteps of their swimming heroes, Minke and Chad.