Deané Anzel Botha was born with a birth defect that meant her skull didn’t develop properly; in order to make sure her surgery remains successful, she needs a special helmet.
Johannesburg, South Africa (11 October 2022) – Parents Adrie and Deon Botha have been working tirelessly to make sure their beloved daughter Deané gets the medical care she needs. The couple was devastated to learn she had been born with a condition known as Craniosynostosis and then later diagnosed with Plagiocephaly as well.
Craniosynostosis is a birth defect in which the bones in a baby’s skull join together too early. This happens before the baby’s brain is fully formed. As the baby’s brain grows, the skull can become more misshapen. If left untreated, it can become a serious condition. So early diagnosis and surgery is needed to make sure a child grows properly. Plagiocephaly is a very treatable disorder; it gives a baby’s head the look of being flattened and is formed that way after repeated pressure is placed on one area, like when a child lays down. The helmet helps correct this disorder within a few weeks.
Adrie and Deon’s medical team helped them motivate the procedures with their medical aid and Deané was able to have surgery for her Craniosynostosis. The removed a portion of her skull to make space for her brain to grow.
Now she needs the special helmet that will protect her skull and help reshape it so she can have a more rounded appearance. The helmet is needed for several weeks and she will need to change them as her head reshapes.
While the medical costs are mounting, Adrie and Deon are focussing fully on Deané’s recovery so she can live her life to the fullest. They have turned to BackaBuddy to raise the funds needed for the helmet as well as cover the additional costs of her treatment that are not being covered by the medical aid.
The helmet is a time-sensitive cost so they are hoping to raise the R13 773.22 as soon as they can. The doctors need to get the helmet fitted by the third week of October.
Deané is a smiling little girl with the happiest face. She brings absolute joy to those around her. If you would like to support her family in covering the medical bills, you can do so here. Several donors have already got them to R13,500 so they are very close to covering the first of several helmet bills to come.
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