Lentswe, Klerksdorp - A little girl from Atamelang, Delareyville spent six months in a Johannesburg hospital after suffering devastating burns. Resego Lekgema was rescued from a house fire, and more than half of her small body was badly burnt leaving her fighting for her life for months in the specialised paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Netcare Waterfall City Hospital.
Now, after some six months in hospital, six-year-old Resego is continuing her recovery after being discharged and making progress that a few months earlier seemed barely possible.
“When Resego was admitted in October last year, she had burns covering almost 60% of her total body surface area, and 10% inhalation burns inside her lungs,” says paediatric intensivist Dr Palesa Monyake.
The little girl was placed on an oscillator machine to support her breathing, and a multidisciplinary team including Dr Monyake, a paediatric pulmonologist, paediatric surgeon Dr Vered Lack and the caring nursing staff set about the long and painstaking process of treating her burns and fighting the ever-present threat of infection.
“Resego had a very difficult road, but from the start she showed incredible tenacity. Her body’s immune system was in shock, and she developed sepsis and multiorgan failure, which are unfortunately fairly common with severe burns. Several times, we feared for her life, but somehow she pulled through,” Dr Monyake says.
After five long months in hospital with her parents and devoted grandmother by her side, the staff threw a party for Resego to celebrate as she was at last well enough to be discharged for the next stage of her recovery.
“In late February, when she was breathing well and could eat, Resego was transferred to us at Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital,” says Prof Andre Mochan, a neurologist who practises at the medical rehabilitation facility.
“After being so ill, Resego’s lungs, heart, liver, and other organs were affected, and from being confined to bed for so long, we needed to help her rebuild her muscles and regain her functioning.
“The burns scars on her face, limbs and trunk also needed to be carefully managed. As scars heal, they contract, which makes movement difficult and can potentially be disfiguring if not appropriately addressed,” he says.
“Although pain was not a major feature anymore by this point, Resego was scared, anxious and irritated after the trauma of her experience and months in intensive care.
“At first, she was withdrawn and shy, not wanting to talk to anyone, and it wasn’t easy to win her trust so we could start some of her therapies.
“Soon our perseverance was rewarded, and she has turned out to be a happy little chatterbox. She’s been an absolute angel and the most cheerful child on the ward,” Prof Mochan says.
Over time, Resego may require surgeries to release the tight scar tissue as she grows, however she continues to progress in leaps and bounds.
Resego’s mother, Rebaone, expressed her gratitude to all the specialists, nurses and other health practitioners for everything they have done to bring her daughter through the family’s ordeal.
“We have been supported with kindness and prayers, and our hearts are full of thanks for the recovery Resego has made.
“Every day she is getting better, and our prayers have been answered,” said the family.
