Despite the trauma of her daughter suffering severe burns from a pot of boiling water, mom Shahida never lost hope that her precious two-year-old girl, Lee-Chaan, would heal.
Cape Town, South Africa (06 January 2025) – A mom was left shattered and beside herself after seeing her daughter in severe pain after having boiling water accidentally spill over her.
Two-year-old Lee-Chaan’s accident was a nightmare that no parent should have to experience, but her mother, Shahida, never lost hope.
It was a dark and cold Tuesday night in August with no power when the family decided to make a fire and boil water outside. Lee-Chaan was sitting next to her mother on a plastic chair when Shahida left to get more water.
“When I got back, Lee-Chaan tried to get up and her chair tipped over,” shares Shahida.
“As she fell, Lee-Chaan grabbed the grill with one hand and stuck the other hand into the pot of boiling water, knocking it over. The boiling water went all over her body.”
A shaken Shahida did the one thing she could think of within that panicked moment – grab and put her little girl into cold water. Doctors later confirmed that this saved the little girl’s life.
Shahida immediately rushed Lee-Chaan to the Mitchells Plain Hospital, and they transferred her to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
The Children’s Hospital Trust confirmed that Lee-Chaan was in the ICU for three weeks before being moved to the burns ward, where she was treated for another two months. But, Shahida never left her side, although her heart ached from witnessing the pain of her baby girl, she still hung onto the thread of hope that Lee-Chaan would heal.
During their difficult hospital stay, Shahida and Lee-Chaan received clothing and toiletries from the Children’s Hospital Trust Family Care Programme.
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With the child support grant as their sole income source, Shahida and Lee-Chaan face financial challenges, especially concerning transportation costs. A single hospital visit can easily exceed R100, making it difficult to access necessary medical care.
Thankfully, the Family Care programme has been a tremendous help, alleviating some of the financial strain by contributing towards the travel expenses for Lee-Chaan’s occupational therapy sessions, where she is regaining the full use of her hands.
Although it has been a trying time and a long healing journey, little Lee-Chaan is today, smiling from ear to ear and excited to play at any given chance!
Sources: The Children’s Hospital Trust
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