Cape Town - After a near-drowning experience at the age of 2, with doctors telling the family to prepare for the worst, Abdul Hakim Madumbo, now 7, has started school.
In 2018, Abdul Hakim fell into the pool at his home in Parow and was left in a vegetative state with partial brain damage. Doctors said he wouldn’t survive. However, in just a month he will be celebrating his 8th birthday.
His mother, Tasneem Swartz, 36, said Abdul Hakim had started school at Alta Du Toit School for children with special needs in Kuilsriver, and had his first concert – in celebration of the school’s 60th birthday – coming up.
“He is in foundation phase at school and it is a roller-coaster of emotions. When the incident happened, Abdul Hakim was not responsive and literally a vegetable. Doctors told us to ‘give it time’ (to pass away) but we knew God had bigger and better plans for him.”
“Every day I cry tears of gratitude and I am constantly inspired when I look at him because we can predict, but God always has a plan. When I look at the scars on his body, it reminds me of what he has been through. But he is not on any medication and can vocalise his emotions and communicate on demand. Everything the doctors said was impossible, God made it possible.”
Swartz said Abdul Hakim communicated through sounds and was able to move on demand, but was still dependent on his wheelchair.
Adbul Hakim’s foundation phase class teacher, Phillipa Caesar, described him as her butterfly. She calls him “Kimmy”.
“He is doing very well and is my little champ in the class. He interacts very well with his classmates and we are opening the school concert with a cute dance. Kimmy has made a lot of progress and is able to communicate. He made a lot of friends and adjusted very well.”
Swartz would like to encourage other parents who have children with disabilities.
“Don’t let a disability stop you from an ability. There is room for growth and as parents we don’t have to isolate our children or ourselves, there is so much out there, we just need to educate ourselves about special needs.”
Cape Argus