Samuel John Frederick Platt was born two months prematurely and rushed into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It soon became apparent that the new-born had a rare disease, confounding specialists and sending his parents, Melissa and Fred Platt, on an emotional roller-coaster as his condition was misdiagnosed several times.
His distraught parents stood by Sam’s side and advocated for his needs, while feeling ignored by some of the health care professionals assigned to Sam’s care. After more than a year in a private hospital in Johannesburg, Sam’s parents managed to get a second opinion and secured a transfer to a hospital in Cape Town.
Sam finally received the proper diagnosis and started to make small yet significant steps to recovery. But just as Sam was about to be given the all-clear to go home, after spending fifteen and a half months in ICU, he passed away.
Fred Platt writes honestly about his experiences as Sam’s dad. He shares the 7 lessons he learnt during this darkest period of his life, which have fundamentally changed his perspective on everything – being human, on business and on relationships.
In honour of Sam’s life, a charitable Trust, Footprints4Sam has been established. With the aim of ensuring that the highest standard and corporate governance is applied to preserve the legacy of Samuel John Frederick Platt, the Trust focuses on ensuring that no child or family will have to endure the challenges that Sam faced. Emphasis is placed on both advocacy as well as tangible initiatives that support families of children facing life-limiting diseases.
As the CEO of a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Fred has spent the past twenty years of his life building a successful business. He lives in Johannesburg with his wife, Melissa Platt. This is his first book.