Page 31 - Waterfall City Issue 8 August 2025

“Nkateko required maximum with us every step of the way. And the Netcare Waterfall City Hospital.
mechanical ventilatory support and ECMO doctors ensured that we were
was not reaching targets for adequate updated throughout the process, while “When Nkateko was hospitalised with
oxygenation. ECMO was a clear still attending to the families of other RSV and required ECMO, our world was
indication in Nkateko’s case with his children who were also being cared for turned upside down. But, in the midst
rapid deterioration and increased in the PICU,” Nthabiseng says. of uncertainty, we found strength in
demand on mechanical ventilatory each other, my parents, siblings, my in-
support,” Dr Bhika says. The baby boy showed remarkable laws and our faith. My wife and I were
resilience as he fought for survival. each other’s pillars, supporting and
In extracorporeal life support (ECLS praying together,” Tiyani says.
also known as ECMO) blood is pumped “Under the constant care of specially
outside of the body to a heart-lung trained PICU nurses, Nkateko gradually “We feel blessed as a family to have
machine. The machine removes the improved enough that we could Nkateko back home with us, and he
carbon dioxide (CO ) from the blood consider transitioning off ECMO has been doing so well since he was
2
and introduces oxygen (O ) through an after three weeks and back onto discharged towards the end of May.
2
artificial lung, or oxygenator, returning conventional ventilation,” Dr Bhika says. The outpouring of love and support
the warmed, oxygen-rich blood to the from our family and in-laws was
circulation via a vein or, as in Nkateko’s Dr Monyake adds, “This little boy had overwhelming, and we’re grateful for
case, via an artery known as veno- us so worried, it was an emotional their presence. The medical team’s
arterial ECMO. rollercoaster, but his parents were expertise and care were instrumental
amazing, they remained positive and in Nkateko’s recovery. This experience
“Nkateko was placed on veno-arterial drew strength from their faith.” taught us that even in darkness, there’s
ECMO, so cannulas were surgically hope. We’re thankful for Nkateko’s
placed to drain blood from his internal “On Mother’s Day, finally, they could resilience and the lessons we’ve
jugular vein and return oxygenated take Nkateko off ECMO. I was nervous, learned along the way.”
blood via his carotid artery. This but it was the greatest Mother’s Day
therapy allowed his lungs to rest and gift to know he was making some “He is now five months old, and he’s so
recover, while supporting his heart. progress. That day we were so excited active and so hungry, it’s almost like he
The ECMO circuit also provides the that we arrived at the hospital three is making up for lost time,” Nthabiseng
patient the opportunity to be dialysed hours before visiting time – I even concludes.
effectively so that his fluid balances are managed to eat something for the first
managed optimally during this critical time in weeks at the hospital coffee
time,” Dr Bhika explains. shop,” she says.

Nthabiseng says, “At that stage, it “My husband supported me with his
seemed like Nkateko was getting positivity throughout. By spending
worse, and we just wanted him to get time at our son’s bedside and speaking
better. We needed to decide in extreme to him, we felt we were helping to
circumstances, and we spent an hour breathe life into Nkateko, telling
asking questions about ECMO, and him ‘We are taking you home soon’,”
they explained all the risks, and that Nthabiseng says.
he would need a surgical procedure to
insert a cannula to connect the system At last, Nkateko no longer needed the
to his heart. ventilator, and his relieved parents
could hold him in their arms again. “We
“It was such an anxious time for us, and heard him cry out for the first time in a
although I felt like I was at breaking month and a half, and the tears of relief
point, we remained hopeful. We also were streaming down my face; by the
found comfort and support from the Grace of God, he was getting better,”
nurses and the unit manager Sister she says.
Jabulile Nxumalo. Every nurse that
looked after Nkateko did it with so Nkateko’s father, Tiyani Rivisi, thanked
much care and they really supported all the specialists, nurses, and allied
us. The doctors, especially Dr Monyake, healthcare practitioners who were
were also so supportive and prayed part of the team caring for their son at Nkateko has recovered well.

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