EIGHT “Old Skool” DJs are going to rock the Jubilee Hotel dance floor tomorrow evening in aid of toddler Danté Delport from Uitenhage, who needs to be at the Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Cape Town.
Danté has a condition known as Erb’s Palsy, which is caused by an injury to the upper group of the arm’s main nerves near the neck. This resulted in his arm hanging limply from the shoulder with flexion of the wrist and fingers.
According to a letter from orthopaedic surgeon Professor Michael Solomons from Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital, “It is apparent that he had a traumatic birth. He was born at 4.3kg at 37 weeks. A vacuum assisted delivery resulted in a shoulder dystocia and a left obstetric palsy.”
Danté’s parents, PJ and Rehelda Delport, said doctors try to avoid surgery on such young patients, but with their son’s condition he had to be operated on at the early age of six months. The cost was close to R100 000.
“We since then have to visit Professor Solomons every fourth months to monitor the improvement of his arm and hand. We were told if improvement is not good at the age of two, then he might have to undergo another operation,” said Rehelda.
His second birthday will be celebrated on July 18th. The following week, on July 26th, he has to be at the Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital, where a decision will be taken as to whether he needs a follow-up operation.
“Danté is a very active boy, but cannot use his left arm. He could not crawl and did the bum shuffle until he started to walk.”
He receives physiotherapy twice a week from physiotherapist Susan Viljoen, to specifically stimulate the use of the arm and hand.
“He can lift his arm, but still has no hand to mouth action or external rotation of the hand. Nor can he move his hand to his back and to the back of his head.
“Owing to his arm not operating as normal, it does not develop and is shorter than his right arm.
“Danté one day will be a man, probably a father and bread-winner. What kind of sport will he be able to do with his condition? Therefore we will do whatever we can to at least let him gain 80% use of his arm and hand,” said Rehelda.
The funds raised will be towards the travelling costs, accommodation, doctors’ consultation and if Danté needs to be operated on, the excess of 25% of the operation cost which their medical fund does not cover.
Wings & Wheels previously donated funds, covering the costs of two of Danté’s visits to Professor Solomon.
DJ bash in aid of Danté
The Old Skool DJs: Teecee, Bebe, Kaycee, Ash Da Bash, Chessy B, Superman, Davey Dee and Dr Beat will be at Jubilee Hotel tomorrow evening from 20:00 till late. Tickets are R40 per person.
- Another fund raiser for Danté by the Old Skool DJs will be held in Port Elizabeth at The Soul Factory, 263 Kempston Road on August 3rd.
