This Mother’s Day, celebrated on Sunday, 10 May, Krizelle Naicker is holding onto what matters most, the sound of her children’s laughter, the comfort of having them close, and the quiet relief of getting through another night.
Her journey into motherhood has been one of faith, patience, and resilience. After years of struggling to conceive, undergoing tests and surgery, she was finally blessed with her daughter, Neorah, a moment she describes as life-changing. She had accepted that it might be her only chance at motherhood, until Zayden came along.
“Motherhood is everything to me. I lost my mother at a young age, and I learnt to never give up, no matter how hard it gets. I have to keep going for my kids. I didn’t think it would happen again. Then Zayden came as a surprise. He is our miracle baby,” she said.
Today, her journey includes caring for her children. Zayden has been diagnosed with Gorlin Syndrome, epilepsy, macrocephaly, and global developmental delay. His care requires regular visits to specialists, ongoing treatment, and constant monitoring, a reality that has reshaped daily life for the family.
However, beyond Zayden’s medical challenges, Krizelle sees her son simply as her child. She explained: “He’s the light of the room. Always smiling and laughing. I don’t know how, after everything he’s been through.”
Raising Zayden comes with challenges many parents may never experience. Hospital visits, medical tests, and sleepless nights have become part of everyday life.
“I barely sleep. I need to know that he’s okay during the night. Every time he gets a seizure, I get scared. You don’t know how bad it will get.”
Balancing work and caregiving has added further pressure.
“My biggest challenge is juggling my job and caring for him. I need to work, but he needs me to be there,” she said.
Despite this, Krizelle continues to show up, drawing strength from her role as a mother. Amid the challenges, there are also moments of deep love and connection, especially between Zayden and his sister, Neorah.
“She absolutely loves him. She tells him sorry when she sees him in hospital, and she tries to make him laugh. She even checks if we’ve given him his medication.”
She said that their bond is one of the most meaningful parts of their journey.
“They have a wonderful relationship. She always asks for him, she just wants to know if he’s okay.”
For Naicker, these moments of compassion and joy are what carry her through the hardest days.
“My husband and my children keep me going. They give me the strength and faith to carry on.”
This Mother’s Day holds a deeper meaning for Naicker.
“It’s more special this year. Because my son has fought to be here.”
However, alongside that gratitude is a very real and ongoing struggle. The cost of Zayden’s medical care, from specialist visits and hospital bills to scans and transport, has placed a heavy financial burden on the family, especially after being forced to seek private healthcare to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.
“We’ve exhausted our savings and credit. We just want to give him the best chance at life.”
Now, she is reaching out to the community, not just as a mother, but as someone asking for help to continue her child’s care.
“I’m just a mother trying to do what’s best for my son. I will keep fighting for him, but I can’t do it alone.”
Naicker has started a BackaBuddy campaign to help fund Zayden’s medical expenses, including hospital visits, MRIs, specialist care, and transport.
This Mother’s Day, she hopes that others will open their hearts.
“It would mean everything. It would give him a better chance, it would help us get him the treatment he needs on time.”
Her hope for Zayden remains simple and filled with love.
“I pray every day that he grows up healthy and can experience life fully,” she said.
Support Zayden’s journey by donating to the BackaBuddy campaign https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/supporting-baby-zaydens-journey or contact Naicker on 078 778 8998.
For Naicker, every contribution is a reminder that even in the hardest moments, a mother’s strength is never carried alone.
