11-year-old Caden Benjamin loses battle against genetic disorder

Caden was buried Saturday in his hometown of Standerton, with more than 100 people present.

Prader-Willi syndrome is a fatal and incurable genetic disease that causes obesity. Caden was faced with a constant hunger that he was never able to satisfy because his brain did not receive the signal that he was full, forcing him to eat everything that he had. he was able to find.

His story touched many South Africans when a fundraising campaign was launched to help his family pay for medical expenses earlier this year.

While he dreamed of having a normal childhood, his condition took a central place in his short life, making it difficult for him to make friends and lead a normal life. At the age of 10, he weighed 85 kg.

Caden had trouble breathing because of his obesity and was equipped with a tracheostomy tube at the age of three. His condition affected his intellectual abilities and caused behavioral problems. At age 10, he still could not read and could not go to school.

After meeting in February, Gila Sacks launched a crowdfunding campaign for Caden to help her mother, Zola, pay for her hospitalization expenses.

She said, "Caden, there are no words to describe your courage. You have allowed me this opportunity to help take care of you. I've always been there to support your mother with emotion. I am honored to do so. I will miss you so much, especially all the voice notes messages. You will never be forgotten and always in my heart. "

Sacks said Zola had dedicated her life to taking care of her son and had been unemployed for some time.

"Caden needed care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He had to be bathed every day, suck six times a day, have at least four physiotherapy sessions a week, take medicine, be fed, administer a nebulizer. , put the device in sleep apnea, take his blood pressure, change his diapers, test his sugar, etc. .

"His worried mother was not resting to try to keep him alive while still worrying about his finances. She herself suffers from sleep deprivation and hypertension. "

Sacks asked that people continue to donate to the family to buy a gravestone and help Zola get back on her feet as she gets up.

"She has gone through so much trouble that she needs all the help possible, emotionally and financially."

Donations can be made at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/for-caden or Sacks can be contacted at [email protected]