Theresa Takafuma
MASVINGO – For the Botsa family of Rujeko in Masvingo, March 13, 2016 was a day of jubilation as they had received their bundle of joy, Thayel Makatendeka, who became their first daughter among four siblings.
Eight months from her birth, the family has already gone through a lot as the infant suffers from a rare liver condition called biliary atresia.
The girl needs an urgent operation to correct the defect through a liver transplant which, at the moment, can most conveniently be done in India.
Though the girl’s father; Kumbirai Richard Botsa (36) has offered a piece of his liver for his daughter’s survival, a total of US50 000 is still needed for the surgery; a figure too high for the family to afford.
Speaking to TellZim News, Thayel’s mother, Adelaide Botsa (33) said Thayel was born a healthy baby but her eyes started to turn yellow a few weeks after her birth.
“We went to the Masvingo General Hospital and we were told that it was jaundice and she was given medication for the condition,” said Adelaide.
“We administered the medication but there was no change, so the doctor took a scan and told us Thayel’s liver was 3,5cm bigger than normal. At five months, due to the persistence of the jaundice, we were then referred to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare,” Botsa said.
At Parirenyatwa, a doctor prescribed valgan cyclovir and Botsa said the very first day they started giving her the medication, she got worse as she started groaning, she no longer slept well and her tummy began to bulge.
“We then decided to go see a local doctor here in Masvingo who suggested that we go see a specialist in Harare since all the symptoms indicated that the baby had biliary atresia,” the mother said.
“We went back to Parirenyatwa Hospital and the baby was diagnosed with biliary atresia and we were told she needed an urgent liver transplant either in India or South Africa,” she said.
“When the doctor delivered the news to us, my husband and I cried because we knew we could not afford the money. My husband works as a loss controller at ZESA Masvingo and is the sole breadwinner,” Botsa said.
Botsa said her baby’s life now lies in well-wishers’ hands, and she appealed to the public to help them raise the $50 000 required for the surgery, travelling, admissions and other eventualities.
Well-wishers can donate the money on: Bank: CABS, Branch: CHIPINGE, Account No: 9040419140 or Ecocash on: 0774 100 122.news
