In an inspiring tale of resilience and hope, twin boys Sylis and Leo are now safely back home in George, just weeks after being born nine weeks premature. Their parents, Lulani Speed and Jacques Labuschagne, are overwhelmed with joy, thankful for the skilled medical team that fought to ensure their sons have a vibrant future.
Born on 21 March at only 1,645 grams each, Sylis and Leo’s journey began with unexpected urgency. Lulani, 34, recounts the frantic morning of 16 March when her water broke, leading to a rapid rush to the hospital in George. “The contractions started a few days later, and it became clear the twins were ready to arrive,” she recalls. The excitement of their birth quickly turned to devastation when doctors revealed that Sylis was diagnosed with a life-threatening left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).
The condition required immediate intervention. Sylis was stabilised and airlifted to Netcare N1 City Hospital in Cape Town, while Lulani and Leo joined him the following day, reuniting the twins as they faced the frightening uncertainty of Sylis’s health.
Dr Ricky Dippenaar, a neonatologist, explained the severity of Sylis’s condition. “This life-threatening defect meant that a hole in his diaphragm had caused his abdominal organs to push into his chest cavity, compressing his lungs and hindering their development,” he noted, stressing the urgent need for stabilisation before any surgical procedure could be considered.
Dr Shamaman Harilal, the paediatric surgeon who operated on Sylis, shared the delicate balance of caring for such a small patient. “Timing is essentially everything; we typically wait for 48 to 72 hours before performing surgery. In this case, we were fortunate to stabilise him quickly, on the third day after birth,” he explained. Sylis underwent a minimally invasive ‘keyhole’ surgery—a first in the Western Cape—that involved small incisions rather than a large surgical cut. This innovative technique provided a range of benefits, from reduced pain to a lower risk of complications.
“Dr Harilal’s decision to use this approach was nothing short of brilliant,” Dr Dippenaar remarked, underscoring the significance of this collaborative achievement in neonatal care. Dr Harilal elaborated on the procedure’s complexity, sharing that Sylis’s muscles were robust enough to not need additional reinforcement—a fortunate turn in this challenging situation.
Post-surgery, the swift progress of Sylis was remarkable. “It was amazing to witness him adapt and heal,” said Dr Dippenaar. After being on a ventilator, Sylis transitioned to non-invasive support, gradually reducing his oxygen needs. Lulani and Jacques faced their own hurdles, worried about their sons learning to feed and stabilising before their eventual discharge.
Reflecting on the expertise of the team, Lulani expressed immense gratitude. “The doctors and NICU staff were absolutely amazing; we can never thank them enough for their expertise and compassion.” Reunited at home, Lulani now looks forward to embracing their new family life, stating, “I just want to hug our three dogs. We’re so happy and excited to begin this new journey as a family, finally together.”
