Former Springbok rugby captain Joost van der Westhuizen is fighting for his health after being diagnosed with a motor-neuron muscle disease.
The disease, which is apparently similar to the one that put one of his teammates, Springbok flank André Venter in a wheelchair a few years ago, has been diagnosed as very serious and could have drastic implications for his health.
Article was published on Sport24
Van der Westhuizen, who led the Blue Bulls to Currie Cup victories in 1998 and 2002, and who is one of the most capped Springbok rugby players in the nation’s history, complained to his personal doctor, Dr Henry Kelbrick, of pain in his arm and was immediately sent for a battery of tests to diagnose the outcome.
Once the diagnosis was made, the seriousness of the matter prompted Dr Kelbrick to send Van der Westhuizen to see two neurologists so that treatment could begin.
While neither Van der Westhuizen nor his immediate family have been available to comment, sources close to the player tell SuperSport.com that the disease is “very serious” and could have massive implications for his future.
“Sports personality Joost van der Westhuizen, has been diagnosed with a serious muscle related neural disease . Van der Westhuizen’s doctor, Dr Kelbrick who is also a close family friend noticed that Joost was having problems with his right arm and ran a series of tests, van der Westhuizen also consulted two neurologists and has began immediate treatment. The symptoms are serious and vary from person to person,” a statement from Van der Westhuizen’s publicist, Bridget van Oerle said.
“The press is requested to respect his privacy at this time and note that neither he nor his family will be available for interviews.”
Van der Westhuizen captained the Springboks to the semi-finals of the 1999 World Cup and was part of the 1995 World Cup winning squad. He was also a member of the 2003 World Cup squad which performed badly, being ousted in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
After that, Van der Westhuizen worked as a commentator for SuperSport for a number of years. He was most recently in the news for a series of personal scandals which saw the end of his marriage to singer and television personality Amor Vittone.
slegte nuus,wens die ou alle beterskap toe.
Ja altyd jammer om van so iets te hoor, sterkte ou Joost. Jy het maar baie knocks gevat die laaste ruk, hoop die wiel draai en jy herstel van alles. Jy was darem een van ons grootste spelers en dit wat jy my op die Rugby veld gegee het is wat my altyd sal bybly.
@ smallies72:
smallies gaan jou Cheetahs my naweek maak? Hel dit sal n groot slag vir die res van SA wees as julle hul omdop.
@ superbul hulle gaan try super hulle gaan try. Hopelik lek ons nie so kwaai driee nie en kan ons n paar meer as die kiwies druk,ek is net jammer juan speel nie
Julle moet net met dieselfdeoorgawe inklim, julle speel n mooi game die jaar. As Bulle uitval sal ek dit maar se dit is eintlik jammer julle het nie teen ons en die Lions deurgedruk nie, dan was julle nou nog in tel.
Former Springbok captain Joost van der Westhuizen faces an uncertain future after being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.
Van der Westhuizen, a 1995 World Cup winner and captain of the 1999 World Cup team, was stunned as he was diagnosed with a motor neural muscle disease by doctors in Pretoria, with his personal physician saying “there are few options available to treat him.”
The seriousness of the disease must not be underestimated, and while initial information compared it to the disease that left Springbok flanker Andre Venter in a wheelchair, this is much more threatening.
Van der Westhuizen’s physician, Dr Henry Kelbrick, told SuperSport.com that Van der Westhuizen arrived complaining of “a loss of power” in his arm muscles.
“He was complaining that he had no power, a weakening of the muscles in his arm,” Dr Kelbrick told SuperSport.com, “and we ran a number of tests, including scans on the brain, neck and other areas, as there was a chance it could have been from an old rugby injury. We immediately found the cause and I referred Joost to a top neurologist, Dr Pieter Kritzinger, where the diagnosis was confirmed.”
Dr Kelbrick didn’t want to elaborate on the exact disease that was diagnosed, as he had been asked by Van der Westhuizen and his family not to go into that detail, but did say it was serious.
He added that while it may have been mistaken for a similar disease as Venter’s, it was actually “a lot more serious”
“It is nowhere near the same as Andre’s, as that affected him from the waist down. This disease affects the entire body.”
The disease slowly degenerates the muscles in the body, up to a point where the patient can develop respiratory problems, and this can be life-threatening.
But Dr Kelbrick was quick to point out that Van der Westhuizen was “still fine.”
“He is functioning at 100 percent at the moment and is in good spirits,” Dr Kelbrick said.
Van der Westhuizen did go for a second opinion at a Johannesburg Neurologist, who confirmed the initial diagnosis and is currently resting in a Northern Suburbs hospital.
He has started treatment, although as Dr Kelbrick points out, “there are very little options available for treatment of this type of diagnosis.”
Dr Kelbrick added that the disease struck at random, and not because it was either genetic or because of lifestyle choices.
“It can happen to anybody,” he added.
It would be wise to prepare for the worst.
This is such sad news!
Very sad.
This is very serious and sad news for Joost, who is described in Sydney press this morning as the best rugby halfback in the modern era.
Few individuals survive this disease, so Joost has kicked off in one of life’s greatest battles. I wish him every success; I’m certain he will be given and need every support from family, friends and the worldwide rugby family.
Sad news indeed, wishing Joost all the strength as he fights this battle. Weird just last night was thinking of the ’95 final and although memory a bit faded two players that I thought of who I remembered played a huge defensive role in our victory that came to mind was Joost and Japie Mulder, so really down to read this today about such a good rugby player.
To leave a message for Joost:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joost-Messages-of-Hope/101814596576582
@ Morné:
Thx Morne,will do.
First time I saw this laaitie playing for Tuks at LC de Villiers Stadium I said to my friend ‘hierdie ou is die nuwe Robert du Preez….’
Bad news, makes one realise once again that every day in life is a gift.
@ Pietman:
Not only a gift, but a privilege.
Personally shattered by this news.
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