Dawie Laubscher
Dawie was born 8th of May 1984 in Olifantshoek. Dawie was an ordinary farm boy who enjoyed the outdoors and farm life. He matriculated from Duineveld High School in 2002 where he excelled in his sports of cricket, rugby and athletics.
On the 2nd of Feb 2007 tragedy struck. He was involved in a terrible car accident which left him paralyzed and his brother dead. Dawie was flown to Palonomie hospital in Bloemfontein where it was determined that he sustained a fracture of the T12 vertebra. He had a fusion of T10 to L2 and had to spend six weeks in hospital. At this stage the doctors’ prognosis of him ever walking again was extremely bleak.
When he left the hospital he only had an ever so slight feeling in his left quad. Gradually a slight feeling of muscle contraction developed in his left quad. His right leg was totally immobile and had no feeling.
He first consulted with Prof J.H Blaauw on the 9th of July 2007. At this stage Dawie was still wheelchair bound but full of hope that his condition will improve.
Cycling with help of a Biokineticist
Blaauw and Partners started Dawie on his rehabilitation on 22nd of Aug 2007. Due to his lack of movement in his legs, the program focused primarily with stretching, mobility and strengthening of his core muscles.
He stayed for two months but due to commitments elsewhere he returned to his farm in the Kalahari. We supplied Dawie with a home program to primarily strengthen his upper body and core stabilizes.
Stretching
Dawie returned to Blaauw and Partners in January 2010 to start a year of intensive rehabilitation.
The program was progressed gradually as Dawie’s strength improved. By April 2010 Dawie’s left leg made a dramatic recovery so much that he could flex and extend his left knee and put full weight on it.
Dawie has made great “strides” so far and by May 2010, Dawie was able to walk on the treadmill with support for the first time. His prognosis looks very positive.
Dawie walks on the treadmill
The next step is to keep strengthening the legs and focus on the muscle imbalances. An orthotist will make him a suitable brace to lock his right knee on extension.
Dawie stands with support
There is still a lot of work to be done but by the grace of God perhaps Dawie will be able to walk by the end of the year.
