From South Africa to Charlotte for Treatment

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by Fox Charlotte

Story Created: Sep 28, 2011 at 11:34 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 28, 2011 at 11:34 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A little bounce and a little clap are a small milestones in the life of six-and-a-half-year-old Carli.  The little girl is from South Africa.  She has autism and daily seizures.  Her parents say they first noticed problems after a set of vaccines.  South African doctors instructed the couple to bring Carli to, of all places, Charlotte.

"She became almost like a zombie," says her dad Johan Breytenbich.  He was determined to give his daughter every opportunity.  He found Charlotte's Ronald McDonald house through a Google search.  The facility made it financially possible for his family to stay here for the past two months.

At a local doctor's orders, Carli is now off daily medications and her diet is carefully monitored.  Breytenbich says, "No gluten, no wheat, no sugar."

The little girl who arrived in the Queen City unable to walk or talk is now playing and beginning to make noises.  Breytenbich and his wife Bessie say they'd tried hundreds of medications and even imported medicine from France.  He says, "We're not against using medicine, it's just that nothing helped."

"We've been able to direct them to organic places where they can purchase things they need," says Mary Guecia.  She is the Ronald McDonald House Operations Director.  She says seeing Charlotte through the foreign family's eyes gives her a fresh perspective.  "You don't remember what a great community we have here and what a great group of people that live in this community."

Carli will stay in Charlotte for two more months before returning home.  As she gets older, she may not remember her time here well but her parents say they'll never forget.  Breytenbich says, "I said to my wife, I think America is great because they're good."

Breytenbich and his wife say Carli's doctor has told them that there is a 60% chance she'll regain speech.  The couple has two other children who are healthy.
 

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