Eduan van der walt

One of the stars of the Pumas’ win in this year’s Vodacom Cup series has been admitted to a Pretoria hospital with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Eduan van der Walt, who captained the Nelspruit side in their surge towards the Vodacom Cup title, is in the Unitas hospital after being struck down with GBS.

And it isn’t the 1st time.

Van der Walt managed to complete 14 months of rehabilitation from GBS to return to the rugby field earlier this year, being chosen by new Pumas coach MJ Mentz to captain the side in the Vodacom Cup captain for his leadership skills and drive to get back to the top.

Van der Walt played in his 100th game in the semifinal win over the Xerox Golden Lions and lifted the trophy a week later in Cape Town, but one week after all this happened, things went horribly wrong for the lock.

Van der Walt sought medical help after feeling muscle loss in his facial muscles, and was rushed to Unitas hospital where he was taken up in the intensive care unit.

“After several tests, the consulting doctor, Dr Naidoo confirmed that he had a relapse into GBS and his situation worsened while in hospital before it was stabilised by Sunday,” Pumas’ team doctor Kobus Hugo said.

“At this moment Eduan is doing well. His body is reacting positively to the medication and we are confident of a full recovery. He at least now has limited movement in his hands and feet and he is breathing strongly. The chances he will need a ventilator are minimal but he will be kept in the ICU so that he can be monitored.”

Pumas’ CEO Pieter Burger described the news as “a massive shock for the Puma family.”

“It was a huge shock for all of us, but like we stood by him before, his friends, teammates and colleagues are sure to do this again. He is an amazing leader with a strong personality. We wish him and his family all the best and we believe we will have him back on the rugby field again shortly.”

Guillain–Barré syndrome, according to wikipedia, is a rapid-onset weakness of the limbs as a result of an acute polyneuropathy, a disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. The disease is usually triggered by an infection, which provokes immune-mediated nerve dysfunction. Many experience changes in sensation or develop pain, followed by muscle weakness beginning in the feet and hands that develops rapidly (between half a day and two weeks).

During the acute phase, the disorder can be life-threatening with about a quarter requiring admission to intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation. Some are affected by fluctuations in the function of the autonomic nervous system, which can lead to dangerous abnormalities in heart rate and blood pressure.

Guillain-Barré syndrome can lead to death as a result of a number of complications, but this occurs in only about 5% of cases.

In most patients the symptoms increase in the first one to three weeks. Recovery usually starts after the fourth week from the onset of the disorder, but there is a variation in the rate and extent of recovery. About 80% of patients have a complete recovery within a few months to a year, although minor findings may persist.

SuperSport