Bring Back Zian’s Childhood

May 2025 Changed Our Lives Forever

May 2025 is a month our family will never forget.

Our 12-year-old son, Zian Botha from Welkom, was diagnosed with epilepsy after experiencing seizures that came without warning and turned our world upside down. What started as fear and confusion quickly became a journey filled with hospital visits, countless tests, scans, and unanswered questions.

After many months of uncertainty, we were referred to Dr Butler in Cape Town, where advanced testing finally gave us answers — but also heartbreaking news. Zian has been diagnosed with a part of his brain that is no longer functioning (dead tissue), which is the cause of his seizures. The only hope for improving his quality of life and preventing further damage is urgent brain surgery, which must be done in Cape Town as soon as possible.

Since his diagnosis, Zian no longer has a normal childhood. He cannot attend school, cannot play freely, or take part in everyd...