A miracle baby born at 24 weeks and weighing only 630 grams has finally gone home to his family after spending three months in hospital.
Melomed Gatesville Hospital says baby Abdul-Khaaliq Moses, who was discharged last week, is the youngest baby ever to be born at the facility.
Dubbed a “rainbow baby”, little Abdul-Khaaliq is his parents’ first born after they suffered a miscarriage previously.
He is now weighing a healthy 1.8kg and his parents are very excited to take him home, says Melomed spokesperson Shameema Adams.
“Unknowingly at 24 weeks, mom Nawaal Moses’ water broke at home, the next day she experienced extreme pain and she came to Melomed Gatesville Hospital.
“Her little rainbow baby Abdul-Khaaliq Moses was born on 30 April 2021 at only 630g.
“Baby Moses has now been taken off oxygen after almost 70 days and was monitored to see if he is ready for discharge.
“At 1.8kg, the Moses family excitedly gets ready to take their precious baby home.”
Mom Nawaal recalls the day of her son’s birth clearly: “I had no idea what to expect or even if my baby would make it, the doctors had informed me that if my baby was not breathing after he was delivered, they would be unable to resuscitate as 24 weeks is usually a “miscarriage period”.
After her baby was born, paediatrician and neonatologist, Dr Shukri Raban, told the mother they would have to take it “hour by hour” as they had no idea if the baby would survive.
However, hours turned into days and days turned into months and Abudl-Khaaliq survived.
Adams adds: “The little one was the first 24-weeker to be born at Melomed Gatesville Hospital and staff in the unit says they had no idea what to expect, however with prayer and hard work, the little man, whose name means "the Servant of the Creator" is doing miraculously well.
“Through these challenging pandemic times, with our staff pushing through three consecutive Covid waves, we welcome and celebrate these success stories.”
An emotional Nawaal says she doesn’t have enough words to thank the staff: “I am eternally grateful to the doctors and staff at Melomed Gatesville Hospital for their hard work, love and support.”
venecia.america@inl.co.za