UPDATE: Tragic end to journey of hope

A RICHARDS Bay couple who had applied to become the legal guardians of little Paulru Isaac Gounder who died in a driveway gate accident in Brackenham last week, has been left devastated by his tragic death.

Brackenham’s Mark and Susanne James were still in shock as their nine month journey with the little boy ended so suddenly and tragically.

The couple met the child in church in December and established an immediate bond.

After a few visits and stay overs, the child moved in with the couple and three months later they inquired about adopting him.

While the process was pending, he was removed from the couple and placed with a relative, his legal guardian.

Mark recalls receiving a message after 2pm on Friday informing him that a driveway gate had fallen on Paulru.

‘I rushed to his guardian’s residence where I found police at the scene and was told he was already declared dead.’

‘We were shattered. We experienced many delays and setbacks to finalise the process and feel the system failed the child and us as potential parents,’ said Mark.

‘All the proper channels were followed and we were excited that he was going to be part of our family, but our continued efforts to fast-track and finalise the process hit dead ends.

‘He had become such an integral part of our lives and our relatives were also left devastated when we had to give him up in April.

‘Despite the challenges we continued to fight for him and while nothing will ever bring back our Isaac, we want the authorities to think about all the parents who want to adopt but are left traumatised and despondent by all the red tape and delays,’ said Mark.