Durban - The heroic actions of a quick-thinking nurse who saved a toddler from drowning have prompted his grateful parents to rename the child “Miracle”.
Puwa and Nandipha Ngcobo said they were so relieved by paediatric nurse Candice Joyce’s efforts after the accident at their Sydenham complex’s swimming pool that the name was more than fitting.
Their three-year-old child, Nizenande Dusha Ngcobo, had stopped breathing after becoming submerged in the pool on Sunday.
“That lady deserves to go to heaven. She didn’t give up on him and kept giving him CPR until he woke up,” said the boy’s father yesterday.
“She brought him back to us, that special woman.”
The couple plan to add “Miracle” as the toddler’s third name.
“He really should have been gone. His face was so purple and pale. I have no idea how I am going to thank her,” said Puwa.
Nandipha told the Daily News their son was feeling much better and was running around the general ward at St Augustine’s Hospital.
“When we ask him what his name is, he says: ‘Miracle’.”
Joyce, who is humble and modest about her heroic feat, said she had done what had come naturally.
“I couldn’t give up on that child. I just performed CPR for as long as I could; I was worried that he could have been brain-dead because he had been unconscious and not breathing for so long,” she said.
The boy’s mother had been feeding her 3-month-old baby when the near-tragedy struck.
Said Nandipha: “Not even a minute later, Nizenande was floating. One of the bigger children pulled him out. I was so shocked.”
The other children screamed for help and Joyce, who lives in the building, reacted immediately.
“I ran down and found the little boy on the side of the pool, not breathing. I immediately commenced CPR for five minutes non-stop. He started to bring up water and he vomited, but I continued,” she said.
The patient began breathing weakly. A lifeguard who lives in the area also arrived and started helping to give CPR.
“I continued to give him CPR for more than 10 minutes until we rushed him to St Augustine’s Hospital to the medical ICU,” Joyce said.
She said she had had “no idea” how much time had passed.
“People told me later that I had spent a great deal of time trying to resuscitate him. It was a bit hard for me to give up because I know him,” she said.
“I have bruised knees now and many requests to learn how to do CPR,” said Joyce, who had worked in neonatal care and ICU and now works in a pathology laboratory.
She said her worst fears - that he may have brain damage - appeared unfounded. “When I went to see him in hospital, he was awake and talking so he’s okay.”
When told about the gratitude felt by the parents, she said: “I just did what I was trained to do. I’m so glad I could help.”
Daily News