Toddler's medical journey highlights need for advanced paediatric imaging
A nearly two-year-old boy from Robertson in the Western Cape has become one of the first young patients to benefit from a newly established specialised MRI anaesthesia unit, as his family searches for answers to a series of concerning health complications that have marked his short life.
Sias Hanekom, whose second birthday falls on 15 May, may appear to be a typical energetic toddler — chasing after balls and bouncing on trampolines with sparkling blue eyes — but beneath the surface lies a medical history that would challenge most adults. At just 10 months old, he was diagnosed with severe anaemia and an immune deficiency, conditions that required numerous consultations, months of waiting, and extensive treatment.
Just as the young boy began showing signs of recovery, his mother Jolanda noticed alarming involuntary twitching movements in his arm. The episodes grew increasingly distressing over time.
"Sometimes it spread through his upper body and it happened repeatedly over a matter of 20 minutes."
Preliminary testing suggested possible epilepsy, but confirming the diagnosis required a detailed MRI scan of Sias's brain. A friend of the family launched a BackaBuddy fundraising campaign to help cover the costs of specialised examinations and treatment. Radiology practice Morton & Partners stepped in to assist, offering the boy access to their newly created dedicated MR anaesthesia unit at Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Pinelands, Cape Town.
Cutting-edge unit among few of its kind in the province
The facility, one of only a handful in the Western Cape, is specifically designed to allow anaesthetists to safely sedate young patients so that accurate and comfortable imaging can be carried out. MRI technology produces highly detailed images of the brain without exposing patients to radiation, giving medical professionals the ability to examine brain structures with remarkable precision. However, the procedure requires patients to remain completely still — a particularly difficult ask for small children, making the specialised anaesthesia unit essential.
Dr Marc Jordaan, a specialist in paediatric and neuroradiology at Morton & Partners, emphasised the critical role that imaging plays in treating young patients who cannot verbalise their symptoms.
"Image formation gives us the ability to see what they cannot articulate. Imaging enables doctors to see what is happening inside the brain and helps guide diagnosis and treatment accordingly."
He noted that while the unit is highly specialised in nature, its purpose remains straightforward: ensuring that even the youngest patients receive access to the finest diagnostic imaging available.
Jolanda shared cautious optimism about her son's progress, revealing that Sias had not experienced any convulsions in the three weeks leading up to the scan. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the road ahead remains long.
"In about two years he will be weaned off the medication and he can outgrow it, but the results of the MRI will help to determine what caused it."
For families like the Hanekoms, this technology represents far more than sophisticated medical equipment — it embodies genuine hope. Jolanda described the scan as a significant milestone, bringing them one step closer to understanding what is happening inside her son's brain. For Sias, it means the prospect of the healthiest possible future — years filled with chasing balls, leaping on trampolines, and all the adventures that make a little boy's eyes light up.
South Africa's public healthcare system faces significant backlogs for advanced paediatric diagnostics, meaning facilities like this dedicated MRI anaesthesia unit at Vincent Pallotti Hospital could help reduce waiting times for young children requiring sedated imaging. For families in rural towns such as Robertson, access to such technology in Cape Town may lessen the need for costly referrals elsewhere. As more units potentially open across provinces, early and accurate diagnoses could improve long-term health outcomes for vulnerable young patients.
