NORMAN GOAKES REHABILITATION FUND

Hello and welcome to the NORMAN GOAKES REHABILITATION FUND Blog. I have set up this blog for my dad and my mom, in the hope that people will read it, be inspired and moved by it.

On May 12th 2007, Norman Goakes started his day the same way he has for the past few years - on his bike. He had been training hard for the Ceres Mountain Bike Challenge, just like many other races including the Argus, which he had completed 9 times. But today wouldn't be like any other day, or any other race, today would change the rest of his life... and the lives of all his family and friends.

Only 2.5 kms into the race, a rider fell in front of Norman and unable to stop, he fell over the rider. Then, the whole pack fell on him.

The pack picked themselves up one by one, a few scratches and bruises here and there, but Norman didn't get up. In the crash, he broke his neck and lay there motionless. His good friend, Wikus Naude, tried to help him, but couldn't resuscitate him. Norman wasn't breathing and he had no pulse.

By the grace of God, a doctor was right behind the pack when it happened and quickly assisted in resuscitation. Dr Hoffman saved Norman's life. The medical team weren't far behind and transported Norman to Worcester Medi Clinic. Here doctors and nurses worked hard to get him stable, but he had to be sedated in an effort to hold him still. Any movement could damage the spinal cord. At the time, it wasn't clear how badly the neck was broken or if the spinal cord had been injured. All we could do was wait...

Rina Goakes, his wife, has been ill for a few years now and was in bed when the news came on Saturday morning. The vicar from their church along with Norman's friend, Wikus, arrived at the house to tell Rina what had happened. She was so weak that she could hardly get out of bed unaided. Friends like Alta and Piet Kroon, their housekeeper and members of the church rallied round to help Rina. Norman's youngest sister, Lynne came to pick Rina up so that she could see Norman. What waited for her at the hospital was a grim sight.

Rina finally got hold of my mother-in-law, Mary Corne, in the UK. Mary contacted me and told my husband and I what had happened. We arranged a flight for Monday to South Africa, so that I could help my mom. My wonderful husband, Nick, took on both our jobs and packing all our belongings as we were about to move to a new city.

Seeing my dad for the first time on the ventilator with tubes going in and coming out of him under the sheet was terrifying! My dad has always been my Superman! He ran the Comrades Marathon, the Two Oceans and many, many other races. Then he started cycling and has a very impressive cycling record. He's a cyclist, a runner, a surfer, a diver, a fisherman, a sailor - how could this man be so small, so injured and so helpless. His face was so swollen that I only recognised him by his ears, he was swollen all over, even his hands and feet didn't look like his. I could only stroke his hair and tell him how sorry I was and how much I loved him. And I could only pray that God would give him back to us. Everyone took it hard, especially my mom. My dad's two sisters, Lynne and Merle, and brother, Brian, were there for support, but I could see that they were also struggling with it. None of us could do anything, but wait.

On Monday morning, the Worcester medical staff decided to stop the induced coma in which they had put Norman. His face looked more like his own, and through the tiny slits of his swollen eyes, I could see him and I know that he saw me. He looked at me and my mom - he knew we were there, but because of the ventilator he couldn't make a sound. We just talked to him and prayed.

Along with him waking up came the news that he had damaged his spinal cord seriously and doctors predicted paralysis from the neck down. This is a hard thing to take for anyone, but especially for someone like Norman Goakes. He never stopped for anything, he wasn't scared of anything and was always up to the challenge. This will be the very thing that pulls him through this - his stubborn nature and will to win!!! When he was told that he wouldn't be able to move, he showed the medical staff and us that he could move his shoulders. He also moved his legs and feet when they were touched. He could feel when we touched on his shoulders and if we scratched his hands and feet.

Being on the ventilator for so long, took its toll and Norman developed a lung-infection. This took a while to clear up, but he is working hard at his breathing so that he can get off the painful ventilator. Anyone that knows him will tell you that he's very determined!

After a few days Norman was transferred to UCT Private Hospital to the ICU ward. He underwent an operation to fuse the broken vertebrae in his neck. He has been there for more than three weeks now. Thankfully the ventilator will be removed soon when a new breathing aparatus from France arrives, and he is getting physiotherapy every day and is sitting upright in a chair for a short while every day. He still can't speak, but that will come. He still doesn't have movement below the neck, but it's still early days. Where doctors fall short, God doesn't, so we pray every day for his recovery. Miracles do happen!!!

My mom has been working hard at getting everything sorted out at home for when my dad finally comes home. She has been driving all the way to Cape Town and back by herself, to see my dad - a miracle in itself as she hasn't driven a car for three years because of her illness. But, her old fighting spirit is back and she is getting better every day. I'm really proud of her! She has been making sure that my dad gets the care that he needs and keeping his spirits up. She's a lot stronger than she looks!

Lynne Venter (Norman's younger sister) and I, have decided to ride the Argus for him next year. I'm hoping the organisers let me race in his name. We will try to get some sponsors and collect money for the Norman Goakes Rehabilitation Fund.

We have set up a fund with Nedbank and welcome any contribution, no matter how small. Please help us, even if you can only contribute a little bit. And if you can't, your prayers are worth gold. If you can think of any other ways to raise money, please send me your suggestions.

Please contact Rina or Karen directly for the account information if you want to make a contribution.

Please let me know of any contribution so that I may add your name to the list. Of course if you want to remain anon, that's fine too.

I would like to thank the following people for their wonderful help with my dad:

Dr. Hoffman - who resuscitated him at the roadside.
Wikus Naude - who is my dad's friend and riding buddy.
Oubaas - another of my dad's numerous friends and riding buddy.
Alta & Piet Kroon - who have been our friends for over 15 years and came to my mom's aid when she needed them. And their housekeeper, who helped get my mom ready and tidied up the house.
Grietjie & her husband - who tirelessly go to the house to feed the animals and keep the garden tidy.
Pieter & Marietta De Kock - who opened their home and their hearts to us and prayed with us for Norman's recovery.
The Church - who have offered their support and have been there for my mom.
The organisers of the Ceres MTB Race - thank you for the beautiful flowers and kind offer.
Worcester Medi Clinic - for a splendid job and for being so kind and caring to my dad.
UCT ICU Unit - for a splendid job and looking after my dad so well.
Lynne Venter - for coming to my mom's aid and giving her continued support.
Merle & Brian Goakes - for coming from JHB to be with my mom.
Tokkie & Elize Mare - for coming from JHB to be with my mom.
Nedbank Vredenburg - for helping my mom organise all the emergency funding that she needed.
Old Mutual - for not letting us down and paying for my dad's rehabilitation.
Nick Corne - my husband, for being my support and strength. Steve & Mary Corne - my parents-in-law, for your continued support and care.

The PEDAL POWER ASSOCIATION - Tracy for your good wishes and prayers, as well as your help with the Cape Argus training programme.

The CYCLE LAB - for your good wishes and help with the Cape Argus training programme.

All our family and friends, both in SA and the UK, for helping us through this very difficult time.

Financial Contributions made so far:

Koos Wessels (Prestige Boats) who generously donated some much needed funds even though he doesn't even know Norman. Thank you, Koos. We really appreciate it.

God bless,

Karen Corne (Goakes)

karencorne@yahoo.co.uk