“I’m fighting this illness with my faith. And my faith is strong.”
Those were the words of former Springbok hero, Joost van der Westhuizen.
He talked exclusively for the first time about the “death sentence”, which doctors informed him about four weeks ago.
The former rugby hero has been provisionally diagnosed with motor neuron disease.
He still cannot believe it, says Joost.
The doctor who examined him, have given him three years to live.
The moment he heard the news, it felt as if his whole life came tumbling down, says Joost.
“The stress that I have endured over the last two years is nothing compared to this,” says the man who went through personal hell for almost the whole of 2009.
Joost is only a shadow of the fit, muscular and self-assured sportsman of just a couple of months ago.
He struggles to talk about his illness without bursting into tears.
During the interview, he excused himself and went to cry in the kitchen.
His two children are his biggest worry.
“The first thing I did was to check if my policies are in order for my kids,” says Joost.
He is hoping that a visit to a second neurologist will bring better news.
Shortly before his interview with Rapport, he cut himself with his razor because his hands are shaking too much.
The thought that he actually could die has not really sunk in yet.
“The wind has been knocked out of my sails. I stared at the doctor in disbelief.”
He struggles to utter the word “death”. All he could say was that “I might only have three years left…”
Van der Westhuizen says he started to realise something was wrong in December last year.
“I struggled to move my hand, but I just left it. It’s typical; I thought it was an old sports injury.
“But, as time passed my speech became impaired. When I spoke to people, they would say: ‘Joost, are you drunk?’
“Later on, when I took the kids to Sun City for three days, it happened again. The kids and I and old Kellies (his doctor and friend, Dr Henry Kelbrick) played in the pool with a ball.
“Then Kellies and I started to wrestle. That’s when he realised there’s something wrong with my arm.
“The next day we started to talk.
I asked him: ‘Can you hear that my speech is becoming more and more impaired?’
“He immediately sent me to a neurologist and then they took X-rays.
“The next day, when he (Kelbrick) gave me the results, it was the first time I ever saw him being emotional.
He said: “Joost, what else could happen to you now?’
“After he told me I have motor neuron disease, he said that doctors didn’t know how to treat it.
Joost says there was a moment of silence.
“I became a blank. I hardly remember anything from that day.”
When asked about motor neuron disease, Joost says: “It’s a disease they don’t know much of. My condition has not been caused by stress and definitely not due to a hectic social life. It’s my nervous system disintegrating.
He has since visited Dr Jody Pearl – a neurologist from Johannesburg – to get a second opinion. She has discharged him from hospital, but is still waiting for a final diagnosis.
However, Joost says he is very hopeful: “My faith carries me. I get unbelievable support from my parents (Mariaan and Gustav van der Westhuizen) and my two brothers (Pieter and Gustav Jr).
“My parents are really taking it very badly.
“But, I will fight this thing. Even if it’s the last thing I do.”
“It’s my nervous system disintegrating”
Bliksem Joost en ek glo nie jy kan n gehalte laaste tydjie verwag nie, shame ou na al die goeie momente wat jy ons gegee het in daai Groen en Blou trui. Sterkte en weet dit jy is in baie se gedagtes en gebede. Hoop daar kom nog n wonderwerk.
Hell I am sorry to hear this. I suppose there is some consolation to be had in the fact that at the top of his game there was no one in the world to touch him. Joost…vasbyt mate….it comes to all of us, some sooner and some later. Lets hope the 2nd opinion brings some hope. I feel for his kids, youngsters don’t really understand the gravity of the situation in circumstances like this. Just another lesson for all of us….when you love someone, tell them every time you see them…..perform random acts of kindness and take time out for our families whenever we can.
Joost, this is one Natal supporter who is in your corner….thankyou for the magnificent performances you have given us and the unbelievable pleasure I have certainly taken, in watching you play the beautiful game that we hold so dear….and play it so very well you certainly did.
Well said 4man. i feel for Joost. nobody deserves it, but i guess its just the luck of the draw. Can happen to anyone.
@ The-Pill:
I am now also thinking of Andre’ Venter. A horrible bloody disease like this can happen to anybody, but when it happens to our brightest and best it is somehow a little more shocking. You know so many people who are ill or disabled look up to sports men and women to get their inspiration. I think now of Ian Thorpe, who is making a comeback for this Olympics….his best friend is a chap who has I think “motor neuron” disease, in any case a debilitating illness or is paralysed as the result of an accident, Ian and he went to school together. Every time before Ian performed he would visit his friend and tell him “I am doing this for you and me”….I personally hope he makes it back to full fitness and speed and gives the American a run for his money. (I forget his name but he won 9 golds at the last Olympics). The odds are against Thorpe making it…..age and speed!!, as you get older your endurance gets better, but your speed drops.
@4man
Yes i agree and i think you are referring to Michael Phelps? Ja i am older and definitely slower, but can take a lot more.
In the end we all die. Makes everything level, but its not how long you live, but what you did with your time that counts.
Rather a great shorter life than a long and boring one. Just my opinion of course.
@ The-Pill:
Correct….Michael Phelps. As I get older the aches and pains that accompany it remind me that I cant do what I used to (certainly doesnt stop me though), but this is offset by the pleasure I get from my children and the young people around me, so the balance is there….we unfortunately don’t have the choice of how we go, unless of course we end it ourselves, but I could not contemplate that, too much to do with cowardice and the pain and unanswered questions left behind. Joost does have an opportunity here and as already indicated re his regard for his children and his parents he will no doubt take that opportunity to pour as much into those relationships that he can. I think we all live like there is no tomorrow when we are younger…we should just carry that into old age too. A friends Dad still used to ride his motorbike and go on the breakfast run and bike club get togethers, wearing his leathers and riding at 300kmph and he was 75….he then got cancer and it was over within 3 months…as his son said to me “I think he didn’t have any regrets”. We get one shot at it….this life….and there is a sign stuck up in my bedroom “enjoy life, this is not a dress rehearsal”. I try to live by that credo.
This is just so sad. Strength!
sterkte joost jy doen dit op die regte manier,HY sal vir jou die beste pad wys.
Ek weet nie eens of dit van pas is nie en ek wou dit graag deel, miskien sal Joost en sy mense hieruit iets kan neem. Ek kry die van my dogter vandag en ag wat ek deel dit maar hier. Klein lesse in die lewe wat tog so waar is.
NEED WASHING?
A little girl had been shopping with her Mum in Woolies.
She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Woolies.
We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing, so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, ‘Mum let’s run through the rain,’ she said.
‘What?’ Mum asked.
‘Let’s run through the rain!’ She repeated.
‘No, darling, we’ll wait until it slows down a bit,’ Mum replied.
This young child waited a minute and repeated: ‘Mum, let’s run through the rain.’
‘We’ll get soaked if we do,’ Mum said.
‘No, we won’t, Mum. That’s not what you said this morning,’the young girl said as she tugged at her Mum’s arm.
‘This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?’
‘Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! ‘
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mum paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
‘Darling, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,’ Mum said.
Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles.
They got soaked.
They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.
And yes, I did.
I ran.
I got wet.
I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health.
But no one can ever take away your precious memories…
So, don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
If you don’t send it to anyone, it means you’re in a hurry.
Take the time to live!!!
Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you’ll need each other — And don’t forget to run in the rain!
Users Online
Total 27 users including 0 member, 27 guests, 0 bot online
Most users ever online were 3735, on 31 August 2022 @ 6:23 pm
No Counter as from 31 October 2009: 39,462,028 Page Impressions
_