Rhyah Sai was born a premature at 33 weeks and weighed only 1.3 kg. Despite being born early, Rhyah's Apgar Scores were 9 and 10, indicating good health.
She was breathing room air did not need an incubator and was initially fed via a gastric nasal tube. We thought our little girl was going to be just fine since she was doing well at NNICU (Neonatal Intensive Care). Our world was turned upside down 8 days after Rhyah was born.
We got a call one morning informing us Rhyah was not well and we needed to come through to the hospital. When we got there we found her swollen, with tubes, pipes and needles all over her body, I could not recognize my baby. Rhyah Sai contracted Sepsis on the 8th day after her birth, she had picked up a virus we were told. Her condition deteriorated rapidly with her later contracting NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis), suffering multi organ failure, brain bleeds, collapsed lung, severe reflux. She even had to be resuscitated, was on the ventilator, her blood pressure could not be controlled at times and she received several blood transfusions.
Medical staff never thought that she would survive, but after 74 days Rhyah Sai came home. Rhyah has a host of complications and medical conditions and had even suffered some injuries while in NNICU. Her left nostril was damaged by the oscillator, she had dislocated hips and her one arm appeared to be fractured and fused back.
Rhyah also suffered a brain injury (a HIE in the medical world) when she was deprived of oxygen during the multi organ failure. As a result she has a brain injury called Encephalomalacia (which is counted among the most serious types of brain damage that can affect individuals) As a result of the brain injury she now has Cerebral Palsy. Rhyah has been diagnosed as having spastic quadriplegia with dystonic movement. All four of her limbs are affected. Having Cerebral Palsy also affects organs and movement etc.
We were told that she would be in a coma or vegetative state for the rest of her limited life span. Miraculously despite the extensive brain damage Rhyah is able to do a lot of things that surprises doctors.
One of Rhyah’s kidneys is functioning at 16% only and the other at 84 %. Rhyah had a procedure called a Vesicostomy (her bladder was re positioned an opening was made just under her navel to create another opening for urine to flow.)This procedure was undertaken in hopes to reduce the UTI's (Urinary Tract Infections) and prevent further damage to the kidneys until Rhyah is able to have bladder reconstruction surgery.
Rhyah has food intolerances, food allergies and poor food absorption. She cannot eat anything with maize, wheat, preservatives, gluten, no GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods, she is lactose intolerant and is unable to tolerate certain veggies.
Rhyah is unable to stand, walk or sit without support due to poor muscle tone. Rhyah is a very determined little girl that works very hard to build her muscles and has made remarkable achievements, however sometimes these achievements are short lived.
Rhyah has Epilepsy and is on medication to control her seizures. She still has seizures from time to time since her seizures are triggered by pain, exhaustion, lack of sleep and certain medication and poor gut health. Depending on the type of seizure and duration she can forget all she has learnt.
Rhyah has a gait walker that helps her to walk by supporting her body. She has to also wear special shoes called AFO's (Ankle and Foot Orthoses) to ensure her feet gets the proper support.
Rhyah is an amazing, strong, determined, resilient little girl. She pushes herself every day to overcome her challenges and improve the quality of her life. Unstoppable determination, unimaginable courage, unwavering faith, unconditional love you will find all of this and more in Rhyah's Healing Journey. A true inspiration! A little miracle!
If you would like to support Rhyah on her Healing Journey please feel free to make a donation of your choice.
We are in need of financial assistance or sponsorship towards the following:
Bank: First National Bank - Richards Bay
Account Holder: Miss Rhyah S Govender
Account: Current Savings
Account Number: 62440837203
Branch: 220830
