Norman Goakes Rehabilitation Fund

20th Feb 2011

2011-02-23T13:55:00.001-08:00

Dad would have been 63 today. Still young.

Nick took Dad's surfboard out, like he does every year on Dad's birthday and the day he died - for a change the rain and the wind stopped, and the sun came out. Just the way Daddykins liked it... I miss him.

Rina Goakes RIP 11/6/51 - 7/9/09

2009-10-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

To those of you still following this blog, my mom passed away on the 7th of September. She's with my dad now, which is my only source of comfort. RIP mom and dad. I love you both and I've made sure your ashes are together in the waves at Shelley Point, forever... One day, I will be there with you.

Norman John Goakes 20/02/48 - 20/11/08

2008-12-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

My dad quietly passed away on Thursday 20th November at Stellenbosch Medi Clinic.

God decided to take one of His children home and we are very thankful that my daddy's pain and suffering has finally come to an end. We had a small memorial service for him on Wednesday at Zevenwacht where he and my mom lived happily for many years.

I would like to thank everyone who prayed for him, went to visit him, sent emails and cards and supported us with your kindness. I will never forget you.

Karen

October update!

2008-10-16T03:57:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

To the lady who sent the flowers to my mom - thank you. She really appreciates them and it made her otherwise dreadful day, a lot more bearable.

Our wish to have my dad at home has not been granted. Financially it isn't possible and the medical aid isn't contributing anymore. Both my mom and dad are extremely sad about this, but there's just nothing we can do about it at the moment. Everyone is feeling the financial pinch and things aren't getting any easier.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. God bless.

Karen

September update!

2008-09-30T03:10:00.001-07:00

Hi All,

Thank you so much to everyone who made contributions towards Norman's ever increasing medical bills! You have really helped a lot.

I spoke to my dad today and he sounds in good spirits - I can only hear a whisper though, but he sent kisses to his granddaughter, Naomi. She'll be six months old soon. My mom told me that they're working hard to get my dad home as soon as possible. He can't wait!

Will let you know how things go. Keep checking the blog for new information, or feel free to contact either myself or my mom and please don't stop donating. Even if you can spare only a few rands, we would really appreciate it!

Karen

August 2008

2008-08-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since the last post, but much has happened!
Norman is still in hospital, but it is not certain when he'll be able to go home. He has had a few set-backs which have delayed his home-coming. A few weeks ago he regained his speech, but has unfortunately lost it again. All we can do is keep praying for him. Rina has put the house on the market as she wants to move closer to Cape Town to be near Norman. Let's hope it sells soon!

Nick and Karen became the proud parents, and Norman and Rina became the proud grandparents of Naomi Mei Corne - born on the 6th of April. She weighed 2.5 kg and was born after Karen had been in labour for 21 hours! Guess The Argus might have been easier! :) Hopefully grandparents and granddaughter will meet some time this year.

Until next time, please help us with any contributions if you can by contacting either Rina or Karen via email. We really appreciate it! God bless!

2008-01-31T02:17:00.000-08:00

Dear All,
Hope everyone had a nice Christmas and a great New Year!
Rina spent Christmas and New Year with Norman in the hospital and they had a great time.
Norman is able to use his voice again and it is amazing to be able to speak to him. He's still cracking jokes and being his old self! Whenever Karen speaks to him, all he can talk about is the baby. Karen and Nick's baby girl is due in April. (Guess The Argus will have to wait another year!!!)

In February Norman's turning 60! Hopefully, he'll be out of the hospital and in a rehabilitation facility soon and we'll start seeing some more improvement.

Unfortunately, the medical aid have now stopped paying for Norman's hospitalisation and Rina is paying for it herself. So, please, any contributions will be greatly appreciated! Call Rina on +27 (0)82 900 8731 or email her at: sonskyn@telkomsa.net if you can help.

July Update!

2007-07-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Some excellent news!!!
Norman has finally left ICU and is now in the Spinal Rehabilitation Unit at UCT Hospital. He is getting physio and is doing gym every day - he is strapped into a bicycle which then helps him to recover some of the lost muscle tone. He can eat a little by himself (jelly and soft things) and is breathing a lot better. He still needs to go onto the ventilator at night and when he is tired, but there has been some improvement.
We would like to thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes. Please don't forget to check this blog for updates. I've added the banking information for contributions to be paid into if anyone wants to help. Every contribution is welcome and appreciated, no matter how small. Thank you.

NORMAN GOAKES REHABILITATION FUND

2007-06-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

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