9th Sep 2010 12:48:24 PM The Charities | The Children | Dorah Mokoena | Health | Schools / Training | Community | Regional Reports | UMashesha Home Amanda Simanga New Amukelani Dube New Andani Mphaphuli New Anele Nyongwana New Babalwa Debele New Bafana Nzima New Balombo Bambula New Basheeba Worlotoe New Boipelo Mosegedi New Bongani Madlala New Bongani Phakati New Bonginkosi New Brendan New Chris M New Deon Slabbert New Dikeledi Mboko New Doreen New Ernest Tshabalala New Evelyn Minto Essono's New Feleng New Franklin New Fursy Mogobe New Gabriel New Gloria New Gontise Mogotsi New Habiba New Helen Matondo New Irene Peta New Jabulani Malungane New Jacques Abrahams New Janine Barends New Jaun Henning New Jeffers Zitha New Jose New Jose Mvula New Kagiso Maphoso New Kagiso Mathebula New Kagiso Mphuti New Karabo Thebedi New Kedibone New Kenyan New Kjetil Sandivk Havnen New Koketso Sekuru New Lee Branco New Liane Grond New Lida Basson New Linda Nana Tshbalala New Londeka Ngidi New Maje New Marco Bronkhorst New Mbali New Mfundo Ntamehlo New Michelle Mthenjwa New Mimi New Mittah New Mlungisi New Mohau Qumpula New Mpho Maja New Musa Zwane New Musiwa New Neliswe Radebe New Nelson Tsabalala New Nkululeko New Nouna boy New Nsizwa Vilakazi New Nyakallo New Oscar Mlondolozi Hadebe New Phindile New Piet Moloja New Reagan New Rolivhuwa Matodzi New Rose Wambua New Rumbi New Saloma Aphanye New Sameh Chiboub New Samkelo Sole New Samukelo Radebe New Seif New Seizo New Selamawit New Shirley Seqobane New Sicelo New Simamkele New Sithembiso Hlatshwayo New Siyabonga Morwasetla New Siyabonga Nokumbi New Siyamthanda New Sizwe New Steven Marakeng Mpyana New Sunday Mukaza New Tapera Jani New Tavonga New Thapelo New Thomas New Thulani Nhleko New Tshepiso Sekuru New Vhahangwele Matodz New Vivian New Vusi Mathibela New Xavier New Yassine Ben Ali New Zanele Jeza New Zenette and Precious Van Wyke New Zianda Ndlovu New Zipho Zwane New Marco Bronkhorst                 Marco Bronkhorst was born on 6th April 1999. His mother was 16 years old. On 7th December 2001, his father said he was on the way to lock his vehicle when the fuel tank of a petrol generator exploded as the exhaust over the fuel tank 'made a spark'. (The parents initially said that this occured on 6th December). Marco's parents said that they got him to Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital 'in seven minutes' where he was placed in a cold bath. Dr Noembé took him into theatre and bandaged him. The next day the little boy was transferred to Pietersburg Provincial Hospital as the hospital had burns specialists. Marco had second and third degree burns to 70 per cent of his body. He was placed in a ward with three other burned children and spent a month there. He had daily Flamozine and Jelonet dressings and was also on a drip for a while and thereafter he was fed with a tube for a week. The first week he was kept under anaesthetic and he was treated for shock. From the second week they gave him each morning five Valaron drops for pain before his dressing changes and if he had fever or was uncomfortable in between, they gave him Panado syrup. He was then under the care of Dr. Rydine. The mother claimed that she came in one day and found Marco's mouth bleeding. She alleged that a nurse had slapped him and had dropped him. She complained to the Matron 'but the nurse denied everything'. Another mother alleged that she had seen the smack because Marco would not stop crying. Marco's mother said: 'For three weeks we stayed by his bed 24 hours a day, taking shifts, until the tubes were removed. He didn't want to take medicine except from me'. The parents asked for his transfer on January 4th 2002 back to Louis Trichardt but the staff there said that he didn't need to stay in hospital. They prescribed Flamozine, Jelonet and bandages on a fortnightly basis and Marco had to return every Friday for a checkup. The parents attempted rehabilitation and physiotherapy themselves. 'At the end of January 2002 we pointed out the hand contraction problem. We moved to Pietersburg where they made pressure garments - a vest and for his neck - and he wore them at the start of March.' The parents alleged that the garments were too small, caused blisters and cut off the blood supply. They apparently insisted that the garments be removed and the hospital said that there was no material left to make more garments. Marco's parents aged 19 and 27 in 2002 wrote to Children of Fire in late June 2002 and came to Johannesburg for help on September 7th 2002. By this stage the little boy had severe arm contractures and the burn damage on his neck was pulling his back into a curve (scoliosis). The little boy was consistently disobedient and the parents, highly stressed. Neither of them was working and the mother had not completed her own schooling. We put them in contact with volunteers in the Pretoria area, to try to get the father work and we encouraged the mother to continue her own education, so that she could help her child more effectively. Marco's parents said that he fell in June and tore his arms on two places. They said that his back was pulling skew, his arm could not lift up and he could not straighten it. If he lifted his head, his mouth pulled skew, he could only move his head a little. Children of Fire liaised with the occupational therapists who had attempted to assist the family. It seemed that despite having no regular income, the parents were reluctant to use state facilities and that they had a deep-seated problem with some of the staff that may have been linked to xenophobia or a similar emotion. Children of Fire arranged for the child's admission to Garankua hospital, noting that parental compliance would be a problem and the staff there decided that in the child's best interests, Marco should remain in the hospital for three months and that his parents should not be there on a continuous basis. Much of the damage to Marco's body has now been alleviated. On 7th December 2001, his father said he was on the way to lock his vehicle when the fuel tank of a petrol generator exploded as the exhaust over the fuel tank 'made a spark'. (The parents initially said that this occured on 6th December). Marco's parents said that they got him to Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital 'in seven minutes' where he was placed in a cold bath. Dr Noembé took him into theatre and bandaged him. The next day the little boy was transferred to Pietersburg Provincial Hospital as the hospital had burns specialists. Marco had second and third degree burns to 70 per cent of his body. He was placed in a ward with three other burned children and spent a month there. This material is Copyright © The Dorah Mokoena Charitable Trust and/or Children of Fire , 1998-2010. Distribution or re-transmission of this material, excluding the Schools' Guide, is expressly forbidden without prior permission of the Trust. For further information, email firechildren@icon.co.za About Children of Fire | Contact us | Advertise with us COPYRIGHT © 2010 Children of Fire. All rights reserved. Designed Developed and Maintained by Fyre Interactive