Bridget Van Zyl

Bridget's Full Story

17 year old Bridget Van Zyl is an absolute miracle when you consider her poor health. Bridget is battling more then one rare disease which makes her fight so much harder.

At birth, Bridget seemed healthy, however, as time passed, she was'nt reaching her milestones, and doctors shrugged it off. A few days before her first birthday, Bridget started getting fits. From here on out she persistently suffered from epileptic fits which damaged the left side of her brain, leaving Bridget to be non-verbal. She recently turned 17 but has the mental capacity of a non-verbal three-year-old....

Bridget was later diagnosed with Rhett Syndrome, Epilepsy, and Autism. At the age of six, she started saying words like dad and baby but, shortly after this, Bridget suffered another massive epileptic fit which took her speech away. She was also diagnosed with severe Dystonia. Osteoporosis and Cerebral Palsy.

Her neck started to cradle in during February 2018, and from there, her doctor said she had Torticollis in her neck, a rare condition in which the neck muscles contract, causing the head to twist to one side. The cause of this is unknown.

She no longer gets visible epileptic seizures, but her last EEG reported her abnormal brain wave activity, and even more so during her sleep, which indicates seizure activity. She is dependent on Urbanol to be able to sleep she cannot sleep without it due to her brain not being able to switch off and seizures persist.

Bridget is still in diapers, non-verbal, and unable to relate or understand communication. Bridget is not able to communicate when she is in pain, hungry, or emotional. In 2019 her doctor at Steve Biko performed a muscle test which indicated severe hypotonia. Her muscles are weakening by the day.

Bridget has an incredibly hard time eating and needs speech therapy to assist with her swallow reflex. She drinks Ensure or Pediasure for additional nourishment and currently weighs 25kg. If Bridget does not gain weight soon, they will have no choice but, to surgically equip her with a feeding tube. Madelyn and Dirk's concern is that she may pull and tug at the feeding tube due to her autistic behaviors.

Dr. Elsa Lubbe, Paediatric Neurologist at Steve Biko Hospital, confirmed on 13 August 2020, that Bridget is a well-known patient of the Paediatric Neurology Clinic. She further confirmed that Bridget is severely physically, and mentally handicapped with severe Cerebral Palsy, and Dystonia (abnormal movements) Bridget is wheelchair-bound and needs around-the-clock care.

On March 2021 Bridget was booked for traction treatment, with the purpose to straightening her neck and spine, to help with breathing and relieve her pain, the result was as good as can be expected.

Bridgets neck and spine is still skew and getting worse by the day, now she is struggling even more, at this point there is nothing more the Dr's can do for Bridget.

Bridget's Dr recommended sheep skin to wrap her body in for some comfort and ease her pain, she is still very fragile and can't travel alot and with fear of her catching a bug is risky, she takes longer to recover, at this point we can just try and keep her pain free and comfortable and pray for a miracle, In these 17 years Bridget slept more in a hospital than her own home.

Bridget is starting to become dependent on oxygen due to her hypotonia and the skewing of her neck. NPC Tatum's Tribe has since managed to loan her an electric oxygenator but she needs a portable one for doctor's visits or when the family leaves the house.

Bridget's stepfather Dirk van Zyl is the only person in the household who can work as Bridget's mother, Madelyn is Bridget's caregiver 24 hours a day. Dirk is also responsible for her transportation costs from Springs to Steve Biko regularly and for her monthly medication.

There are two other healthy children in the van Zyl household, even though they are healthy, they had to accept at a young age that all financial obligations are for Bridget's well-being. Bridget's little brother (13) and little sister (10) have had to make many sacrifices as children.

I wasn't meant to be a special needs mom, I wasn't given a special needs child because I'm a super mom with special powers or some amazing strong person, I was given a special needs child because genetics did'nt play out in my favour, I am just an avarage mom that was gifted a special angel who requires extra love, care and attention this gift from my GOD made me a stronger better mother.

Our lifes were drastically adapted to accomodate our situation, surroundings and life style. I didn't know how to cope, all I knew was I had to get up, be strong for the needs of my angel, she depends on me, any parent with a special needs child can relate.
To all the special needs parents out there: You are strong, amazing and understood, you do the best you can in your ability to cope and provide her with the care they deserve

Thank you MY Lord for this priveledge to still have her in my life, I know someday God would need her back, but until then I will do my extra best to be the best mom she deserves and needs.

— With Love Mom