A first-time mother is forever grateful for Goodwood clinic’s swift reaction to save her baby.
Laeticia Citenga, a resident from Goodwood, tells the story of how she was unaware that her five-week-old baby, Ethan Citenga, was sick.
Citenga says that as a first-time mother she did not notice her baby’s breathing.
“I thought it is normal for newborn babies to breathe like that, I thought it was nothing but a blocked nose,” Citenga says.
On Thursday 24 January, Citenga went to collect her medication at Goodwood clinic when she asked the receptionist if she could meet a nurse or the doctor to check up on her baby.
“I went to Sister Hadebe, she immediately noticed it was not a blocked nose, but that the baby was not breathing normally. She tried her best to save my baby.”
“It was like God sent me an angel,” Citenga says.
Load shedding and no ambulance
It was load shedding, and suddenly it seemed like everything was going wrong.
While professional nurse Zandile Hadebe tried calling a paediatrician at Karl Bremer hospital the phone was busy, but she did not give up.
She was willing to wait until a doctor or nurse picked up the phone. She explained everything to them.
“It was amazing for me,” Citenga says.
Then another problem popped up as there was no ambulance available.
“When the ambulance came for other people, Sr Hadebe stopped them and asked if they could help me to go with them to Karl Bremer.”
According to Hadebe, the mother was presented at the clinic with a five-week-old baby boy, presenting with a blocked nose according to the mother.
To her knowledge the baby had a blocked nose, and it had been for two weeks already, having difficulty in breathing, and severe chest indrawing.
Bacterial pneumonia
This severe chest indrawing is extremely dangerous, Hadebe explains.
The child was admitted to Karl Bremer Hospital after being diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia.
They commenced the baby on antibiotics, and Panado and maintained on oxygen 40% via nasal prongs for six days.
Hadebe says: “I did not go the extra mile, but I just did what I was supposed to do because I took a pledge for service to humanity, and I practised upon my honour.”
Hadebe says that caring for the babies’ needs daily prayers.
“I can just say it’s only God’s wisdom that keeps me going.”
According to Hadebe, her motto is: “Mom arrives in the health facility with a frowny face and leaves with a smiling face.”
The baby was discharged and is recovering well at home. Citenga says she is forever thankful to Hadebe.
