THE fact that she didn’t die before birth was already a miracle to doctors and now, four years later, this little girl is not only happy and healthy, but also starts her first day at school today.
Inganathi Stalmeester (4) was born with a parasitic twin inside of her, a condition known as foetus in foetu. Since she was the host twin and the foetus inside of her was draining her of all nutrients, doctors said that twins in such cases usually die before birth.
However, Inga is doing so well that her next checkup, in June this year, might be her last.
Inga’s mother, Cindy Stalmeester, said the doctors have been positive about Inga’s progress, and if they are happy with her health in June, she would no longer need regular checkups.
She said that her daughter will be starting Pre-grade R at Magqabi Primary School.
“I’m such a proud mom that she is starting school, knowing where we came from and what we went through to get her here. Our faith and our love for Inga helped her fight to get better as young as she was. She’s our inspiration and showed us that God will never forsake you if you just stay faithful, keep praying and trust in God, your Saviour. That is when you can overcome anything no matter how big or small,” she said.
“Inga has developed quite the personality. She is adorable and friendly, and people that meet her instantly fall in love with her. She is good at drawing, and loves to write. She has also been growing well, and is a blessing to us,” she added.
According to Stalmeester, she had to quit her job to look after Inganathi and because her daughter was so sick, she didn’t want to let her out of her sight.
“It has been hard but our family is close, and her parents and siblings love her. We just want to tell all other parents out there with sick children to never stop believing that things will get better,” she said.
PE Express previously reported about Inganathi who, at one point, was hooked to a ventilator, fighting for her life.
Although being told that she had a healthy pregnancy and that the baby was developing beautifully, Stalmeester knew something was wrong when Inganathi developed a bloated stomach two weeks after her birth on June 6, 2018.
Following scans and tests, doctors diagnosed her with a pancreatic tumour and she was transferred to Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.
She was too weak for surgery when she arrived at Red Cross and, as she relied on intravenous feeding for a month, her condition worsened. She was subsequently placed on a ventilator in November 2018. The growth was removed shortly after and tests then revealed that it was a foetus in foetu.
