Hot Cares and The Dis-Chem Foundation deliver urgent help for Baby Olivia

Baby Olivia is just one year old — and already fighting a rare and severe form of epilepsy called Dravet’s Syndrome. Her seizures can be sudden, prolonged, and life-threatening, affecting her breathing and leaving her temporarily paralysed. Living in Hectorspruit, Mpumalanga, far from specialist care, every minute counts when an episode strikes — especially on the long journey to hospital. 

After months of uncertainty, countless tests and hospital stays, Olivia’s diagnosis has brought clarity — but also new challenges. In recent weeks her parents, Jacorien and her husband, have noticed new seizure patterns, making their little girl’s condition even more unpredictable. What they need now is practical, immediate support that can make a life-saving difference at home and on the road. 

Hot Cares, together with the Dis-Chem Foundation, is stepping in to help. We are covering the cost — up to R30,000 — of a portable oxygen unit for emergency use during seizures and transport, as well as a larger, supportive mattress for Olivia’s cot so she can lie safely and recover comfortably after an episode. These essentials are more than items; they are peace of mind for a family who must be ready for anything, at any time.

Olivia’s courage — and her parents’ unwavering love — inspire us. With your support, Hot Cares can keep answering urgent calls like this one, giving vulnerable families the tools and dignity to face each day. If you’d like to stand with Baby Olivia and families like hers, visit hotcares.co.za to learn more about our work and how you can contribute. Together, we can turn fear into preparedness — and give a brave little girl the safer tomorrow she deserves.