THE parents of one-year-old boy Wayden Volmenk, who was born with an enlarged heart on the right side of his chest, were invited to a special party for their son.

The birthday celebration was organised by beauty therapist Duduzile Ngwenya, who has been touched by Wayden's fighting spirit.

Wayden's parents, Millen and Ronnel, whose son was given a slim chance of survival by medical doctors, joined other well-wishers in singing "happy birthday" to their son on Friday at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, where he is an out-patient.

He was born with an enlarged heart on the right side of his chest. In addition to that, doctors said his heart had flipped sideways and it had two pipes to pump blood into the lungs instead of the usual four.

Making matters worse, one of the pipes was blocked, which caused a shortage of oxygen supply to the brain. That led to a severe brain injury. Even a bypass operation done last year did little to help the injury.

Earlier doctors said Wayden's injuries had caused his mental growth to be behind by 10 months, but that did not dampen the party. - sifilel@sowetan.co.za