Update

GEORGE NEWS - Friday 20 June was the first time the 15-month-old toddler from Wilderness, Juván Havenga, breathed on his own in nearly two weeks.

"But he still struggles," said his mother, Adelizé, earlier this week after an emotional step forward in her baby boy's long medical journey. "His little body is battling thick mucus that makes it hard to breathe. We have to suction it regularly."

Little Juván, who has been diagnosed with autoimmune enteropathy (AIE), a rare condition in which the immune system attacks the lining of the small intestine, has gone through intense trauma. 

During his metabolic acidosis and extreme fluid retention, his body swelled so much that even breathing became a fight. When they intubated him, his body couldn't handle the shock, and he went into cardiac arrest.

The doctors managed to resuscitate him after 20 minutes.

"For a long time, the focus was that he must live. And now, by God's grace, he is living. Only now can we start wondering what damage there might be."

So far, the signs are hopeful. Two short EEG scans revealed no abnormalities. A longer overnight EEG is scheduled this week to paint a fuller picture, as he had been on a ventilator for a long time and sedated heavily. He also had surgery for five and a half hours, with another round of anaesthesia the next day.

Juván before his last surgery in Panorama Mediclinic.

A year of courage

This latest chapter in Juván's story is only part of a journey that began one year ago. On 18 June 2024, he was diagnosed with rotavirus. For many children, it's a passing illness, but not for Juván. Within weeks, his condition deteriorated.

After being treated at Mediclinic George, the doctors referred him to Panorama Mediclinic in Cape Town for specialist care. There, a paediatric gastroenterologist took him under her wing. 

After months of intense testing, Juván was diagnosed with AIE. 

He was placed on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), receiving all his nutrients intravenously. A special formula brought small improvements and the treatments were adjusted.

And after six months, Juván was finally allowed home in November 2024, with medical equipment, a dedicated nursing team, and his mother by his side every day.

Setbacks, storms and strengths

But the battles were not over. In May, Juván accidentally pulled out his Broviac (feeding) line. After a month of failed reinsertion attempts, a temporary CVP line was placed in his groin.

Then a couple of weeks ago, on Sunday 8 June, disaster struck.

Kidney failure. Sepsis. Metabolic acidosis. Respiratory arrest. Then cardiac arrest.

The doctors told the family to prepare their goodbyes. "I told him if he cannot go on, I understand, but if he can fight, I will fight with him," says Adelizé.

And Juván chose to fight. On Friday 20 June, he retook his first independent breath after nearly two weeks of sedation and multiple back-to-back anaesthetics.

"After two traumatic weeks, I finally held my baby boy again. Tears, prayers, machines, miracles - we've lived through it all. He fought through cardiac arrest, surgeries, and silence …but he made it back to me. He is breathing on his own. 

"What a miracle! We all remain uncertain about how things will be when he fully wakes up. There's still so much unknown. But we see his strength."

Juván with mum Adelizé, dad Ettienne and his big sister, Alienké (3), in the hospital on his first birthday. Photos: Juván's Miracle Mission Facebook page‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’