My name is Anthea; I stay on a small holding on the north coast of KZN. I am married and have an 18 year old daughter. I am an outdoor person who loves animals. I have stables on my property which I used to run as a livery yard quite successfully until my accident.
I had an accident on the 7 Feb 2015, I was fishing on a friend’s boat and we hit a sand bank coming into beach. I was thrown out my seat and came down on the edge of the seat on my back. I was winded and could not feel my legs. I was rushed to our local hospital where my fears were realized and I had a broken back and spinal cord damage and would have to have surgery.
I had a T12 laminectomy; T10/T11 L1/L2 auto bone grafting. Removal of extradural haemorrhage; Posterolateral decompression of spinal cord; peduncular screw fixation. Well that’s the fancy medical terms anyway basically they straightened up my back and screwed together the four vertebra around the impact point from the accident.
I was in the ICU for 11 days and then transferred to the Life Entabeni Rehab facility, in Durban, from the 18th February 2015 to 15 April 2015. In a nutshell I am now a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair but I am determined to get back on my feet, and walk again, whether it is with a walker, crutches or un aided I will take my next step.
Since my discharge I have been exercising and trying to get back on my feet. I have regained some sensation over the last 3 years. I do however have limited sensation below my knees. There has been improvement, but I need more intense therapy now. This is how I came across the “Walking with Brandon Foundation” in Cape Town. I would like to have therapy there over a 6 month period, 1 week of intense therapy per month, and hopefully I will take my next step.
The cost of the last 3 years of therapy together with the added financial burden of not being able to work a normal job or run my business anymore has put a huge strain on myself and my family.
I have contacted the foundation and they have acknowledged that I do have a chance of reaching my dream to walk again. Unfortunately, this comes with a price tag I cannot afford, the cost of the sessions, transport, travel and accommodation is currently not within my means, so I am asking for help.
I would greatly appreciate any donations towards my next step.
