Alberton’s baby boy is in Boston!

The family was expected to land in Boston at about 14:00 on November 28 (that is 20:00 here in South Africa). The RECORD will keep readers updated as things develop in Boston.

SAMANTHA and Wayne Willemse together with their daughter Charlotte and their beautiful baby boy, Caylum, finally embarked on their journey to Boston on Sunday, November 27.

The family was overwhelmed by the host of family, friends and members of the community who have all followed baby Caylum’s story, and who were present at their house as they left for OR Tambo International Airport.

ER24, Netcare 911 and bikers all gathered at the Meyersdal Mall on Sunday afternoon as they prepared to convoy the family to the airport. Everyone proceeded to the Willemse’s home in Meyersdal and thereafter made their way to the airport. Caylum and Samantha were transported in an ambulance while the rest of the family and friends all convoyed in their branded cars for Caylum, all following behind the large group of bikers.

The RECORD has followed Caylum’s journey and since 947 stepped in to help Caylum and his family, the family has been able to #GetCaylumToBoston. It was in August that Darren “Whackhead” Simpson noticed the public’s call to help baby Caylum after several tweets and messages to him and the show.

Simpson was compelled to help support baby Caylum in his fight for survival and contacted the Willemses. With the continued support from 947 and Whackhead, the Caylum Willemse Foundation collected a total of R1.5-million in only 55 minutes. It is only through the continued support of the community that Caylum is now one step closer to getting the treatment he needs.

Caylum was born on January 12 and was diagnosed with TOF and OA by Netcare’s Dr Charles Caraphinha, and later diagnosed with tracheobronchomalacia.

Caylum has a problem with the oesophagus (the feeding tube) and the trachea (the windpipe) – a condition called tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) and oesophageal atresia (OA).

The fistula is a connection between the trachea and the oesophagus, which may lead to problems with breathing. An atresia means that there is no way for food to pass into the stomach, due to the gap between the upper and the lower parts of the oesophagus.

Caylum was hospitalised on March 20 and was in ICU from May 9. He has gone for an aortapexy for the tracheamalacia and had recurring episodes where he stopped breathing.

The Willemses tracked down Doctor Rusty Jennings from Boston Massachusetts and the costs involved in getting Caylum this help is approximately 500 000 dollars.

Samantha spoke to the RECORD before they left for the airport saying that they are extremely nervous yet excited but happy that Caylum is finally on his road to recovery.

Caylum was expected to leave earlier this month but due to unforeseen circumstances, he left later than expected. The expected date for the surgery to take place is on December 2. This is all dependent on Caylum’s progress once they arrive in Boston.

According to the spokesperson of the Caylum Willemse Foundation, Adriaan Gerber, the family was expected to land in Boston at about 14:00 on November 28 (that is 20:00 here in South Africa). Caylum is expected to go straight to the emergency room and thereafter doctors will monitor him and his progress following the flight.

The RECORD will keep readers updated as things develop in Boston with the Willemses.

Photos and videos by Shernovia Reddy