Africa-Press – Seychelles. Former Miss South Africa Melinda Bam and her husband former Mr South Africa Adriaan Bergh, were still on cloud nine from their anniversary getaway in November last year when their excitement was abruptly halted.
Having joyfully announced their second pregnancy in August, sharing a snapshot of Melinda in a bikini as Adriaan affectionately kissed her cheek and cradled her belly, their dreams seemed to be unfolding beautifully. They were already proud parents to a blue-eyed son, Ruach, born in April 2023.
Days after returning home, doctors informed them that Bam needed to be hospitalised immediately as her placenta wasn’t providing their unborn baby with enough nutrients and blood flow. Shortly thereafter, the couple welcomed their daughter, Rein Talia Bergh, on 22 November 2024. She was tiny, weighing a mere 1.1 kg at birth.
After staying mum about developments surrounding the new addition to their family, Melinda shared a lengthy update about what had been happening in their lives. In the video, Adriaan described his first glimpse of her: “She was born the most beautiful little girl. So small yet so perfect.”
Heartache quickly replaced their initial joy as Rein was rushed to the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
“To see her with all those pipes and cables, no parent wants to see that,” he added, voice thick with emotion.
Reflecting on her precarious condition, Melinda expressed the raw vulnerability of their newborn, emphasising that Rein should have been in the womb for two more months.
“My two hands were so big for her small body. I was so shocked when I saw her because you see every vein and how thin her skin was. You could still see the outline of her ribs and how worn down her little face was and how extremely vulnerable she was,” she said.
As she and Adriaan stood united in those critical early days of their daughter’s life, Melinda recalled a terrifying moment when the baby stopped breathing during kangaroo care.
“It felt like I saw my baby dying in front of my eyes,” she recounted, tears held at bay while she remembered her daughter changing colour.
Through these harrowing experiences, the true fragility of life became starkly apparent.
“Then you realise that every little breath, every heartbeat, every bodily function dangles on a fine thread of grace,” she said.
For Adriaan, words could scarcely capture what they endured. He described a rigorous barrage of tests, scans, and X-rays that Rein had to endure. But after 66 long days, the couple finally heard the words they had been waiting for—they could take their daughter home.
“The day we found out we could go home was just a massive, joyful victory for us,” Melinda shared.
Adriaan echoed her relief, describing the moment as “almost too good to be true.”
After living in survival mode for over two months, their newfound reality left him eager to begin their life as a family of four.
“Hearing that things looked so good that we could go home, things couldn’t happen fast enough for me,” he recounted.
After their journey through the storm, which is now behind them, the couple expressed a deep sense of gratitude—not only to God but also to the skilled medical team at Mediclinic Kloof Hospital in Erasmuskloof, east of Pretoria.
Thanking the team that assisted in the caption of the heartfelt video, Melinda wrote: “Only you can do what you do with as much heart as you do it. With compassion and understanding, you guided us through this challenging journey. Your dedication and love were evident in every gentle touch and vigilant moment by her bed, reflecting the grace of angels in blue uniforms that you are”.
She added: “You cared for her in ways unimaginable to us and were our rock during this critical time. We will forever be grateful for your expertise, your compassion, and for the profound impact you had on our lives. Your care made the difference; without you, we would not have achieved where we are today. A thank you will never be enough.”
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