Preemie Survives 2 Life-Threatening Conditions and Finally Comes Home

Born premature, a two-month-old girl is finally home after surviving two life-threatening medical conditions.

Marique Kloppers of Johannesburg was born at just 34 weeks at the Netcare Clinton Hospital in Alberton on June 17, 2020. However, the newborn was diagnosed with congenital a tracheoesophageal fistula, an abnormal connection between the windpipe and the food pipe.

The little girl underwent surgery to have the defect repaired. Then six weeks after her birth, Marique was discharged from the hospital. However, Johannesburg church minister Rev. André Kloppers and his wife Anré's happiness did not last long.

Baby suddenly stopped breathing 

Rev. Kloppers recalled that Marique was only home for two weeks when Anré noticed that the baby had stopped breathing. "This came as a tremendous shock," he said, "...a friend and I did an infant CPR on Marique." Then they rushed the baby to the hospital.

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They will then find out that Marique has acute life-threatening obstructive apnea. The doctors said that the collapse of her lower airway caused her to stop breathing during her sleep. Marique's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by narrowing or blockage of the windpipe, which was too soft due to the initial congenital malformation. Marique had to be ventilated to help her breathe.

Dr. Carapinha and ENT surgeon, Dr. Tim Capon, performed a procedure that involved making an opening in the baby girl's neck and having a breathing tube placed into the windpipe. The tracheostomy helped Marique enough so that she could be taken off the ventilator. Dr. Ashley Jeevarathnum said that Marique won the hearts of doctors and staff members during her stay at the hospital.

"We're so scared we are going to lose Marique."

Rev. Kloppers said that there were many times when they felt scared that they would lose their baby. The doctors at the hospital also expressed their concern about Marique's chances of survival.

It is not surprising, therefore, that he felt relieved and grateful "to have her with us today," he said. "Sometimes," he added, "we can't believe that she did [make it]."

The baby had to stay another two months at the hospital before being discharged. For two weeks, her mother was trained on how to care for her at home. Currently, she is being fed with a tube following a strict schedule and sleeps with oxygen support. 

Dr. Jeevarathnum said that Marique's prognosis is excellent. And that they hope that she will outgrow the condition. Otherwise, a follow-up procedure at a later date may be required. Doctors will check back in a month to make sure she has no obstruction in her airways. But as it is, the doctor said that Marique is already fortunate to have survived, which was like a miracle. "We are all celebrating her recovery."

Rev. Kloppers praises that doctors who did not hold back in explaining what is really going on and what to expect. That gave them the confidence that their child was in the best possible hands.

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