At just five years old, little Caleb Alexander has already faced more than his fair share of life’s challenges. Born with club feet and later recovering from painful facial burns as a toddler, this bright-eyed boy from Oudtshoorn is now getting ready for his first year of school — but there’s one more hurdle in his way. 

Caleb has been living with hearing loss since birth, and it’s only recently that his family has come to fully understand just how much it’s shaped his early years.

Despite everything, Caleb’s world is filled with colour, imagination, and endless creativity. Known for his cheeky grin and mischievous sense of humour, he spends his days sketching, building wild LEGO creations, and acting out brave firefighter adventures. He may not have many words yet, but there’s no mistaking his joyful spirit.

“He’s our little artist,” said his aunt, Nina-Rose Clarke. “He colours beautifully, builds for hours, and has this way of expressing himself that’s just so full of joy. You don’t need words to feel his energy.”

It was delays in Caleb’s speech and social development that first raised concerns. Given the family’s history of hearing difficulties, his parents arranged for all three of their boys to be tested. The results confirmed what they’d feared: Caleb had been struggling to hear since birth.

“Getting that confirmation was really hard,” Clarke explained. “But we’re not the kind of family that sits in sadness for too long. We get up and do something about it.”

Getting Caleb the help he needs hasn’t been easy. Access to audiology services in Oudtshoorn is limited, and travelling to specialists comes with high costs — something the family has had to juggle carefully. 

“But with Caleb about to start school, time is critical. This is the age when language skills take off, friendships begin to blossom, and confidence starts to take root,” Clarke said.

“Caleb is the middle of three boys and often described as the glue that holds the family together.

“He’s cheeky, full of life, and always up to something — whether it’s pulling funny faces, pretending to be a puppy, or helping out with the little ones. Despite his hearing challenges, he’s fiercely independent. He makes his bed, tidies up, and loves to lend a hand.

“His hearing loss doesn’t define him,” Clarke said. “His kindness does.”

The family has adapted in small but meaningful ways. At noisy gatherings, they take Caleb on peaceful walks to give him a break from the chaos. At home, they’ve come up with their own ways to communicate — more eye contact, more gestures, more patience.

Clarke, who shares a birthday with Caleb, described their bond as special, which is one of the reasons she decided to launch a BackaBuddy fundraising campaign — not just to buy hearing aids, but to give her nephew the best possible start in life.

“These hearing aids aren’t just about sound. They’re about connection, learning, friendship… everything that makes childhood magical.”

The goal is to raise R30,000 to cover the cost of hearing aids, speech therapy, and travel to specialists. In just 11 days, more than 36 donors have already helped raise over R17,000.

For Clarke this is a sign that there’s still so much kindness in the world.

“We’re so grateful — whether someone gives R10 or just shares his story, it all matters,” she said. “It reminds us, and it shows Caleb, that there are good people out there who care.”

His mom Denoliza added: “All we trying to do is to make the world accessible to him so that he can reach the full potential that we know he has in him.”

To support Caleb’s journey and help him start school with the tools he needs, visit:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-caleb-hear-the-world-before-grade-1

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus 

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