IB Foster

I always enjoyed playing rugby and lots of other sports, and also enjoyed the social side of sport and belonging to a team. After school I wanted to become a Pilot, but my dreams were shattered when I broke my neck in a rugby match.

In my final year of school, I played a match for my school against Volkskool Potchefstroom. About 20 minutes into the first half another player fell on me. I injured my neck. I was unconscious. When I woke up the medical personnel were beside me. Immediately I realised something was wrong because I wasn't able to stand up. They carried me off the field without using any medical equipment, although I asked them not to. There I lay next to the field, for about 45 minutes, waiting for an ambulance. When the ambulance arrived they took me to hospital where they stabilised me. Thereafter I was flown with a helicopter to Eugene Marais Hospital in Pretoria. Soon after arrival they operated my neck.Then I was in intensive care and they operated my neck again on Thursday. I was discharged after two weeks in ICU to go to Muelmed Rehab Centre.

I spent about four months in rehab, getting physiotherapy and trying to adapt to my new life as a Quadriplegic. At first I was able to move only my head using the muscles in my neck, I couldn't feel or move from my shoulders down. I couldn't even sit by myself. But then,very slowly, day by day, I started to get back sensation. Everyday I could feel somewhere new. And then one day, my physiotherapist saw a small movement in my biceps. first the one, and then the other. Now we had to train these muscles. The rehab also helped me get the right wheelchair, and all other things I would need for my new life. I was discharged on 15 September 2006.

At home it was an all new experience. While I was in rehab my parents adapted the house and made it wheelchair friendly. We had to find someone who could help me with my daily activities, and we were lucky to have found someone I already knew and felt comfortable with. I also had to continue with my exercise and physiotherapy. One of my mom's friends is a physiotherapist, and although she wasn't working as a physiotherapist any more, she decided to help me with my physiotherapy and exercise. That helped me and my family a lot because we live on a farm far away (about 80km) from physiotherapists. She also taught my caretaker how to do my physiotherapy exercises. By the end of 2006 my arms were strong enough and I started to do some things for myself like eating and working on a computer.

It is now almost three years since my injury. I am farming with sheep and pecan nuts. I also do share trading on a small scale, but are still learning about being a successful investor. I enjoy doing motivational speaking and I do some painting. I still exercise everyday and try to be as independent as possible. I am now able to ride my wheelchair on flat surfaces. I hope to one day be a radio DJ, and participate in hand cycling, but for now I want to be a successful sheep farmer.

I want to thank my mom, dad, sister, caretaker and physiotherapist for everything they do for me. I also want to thank my family and friends for their endless support, and thank you to the communities of Ottosdal and Lichtenburg for their support, kindness, and making me feel welcome. Thank you to everyone who helped me in any way. Also thank you very much to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund for being there for me since I started with rehabilitation. They provided me with an electric and manual wheelchair, my physiotherapy and training equipment, a new mattress, bathroom accessories, and a lot more. They also send clothing packs and they help me financially. They made things a lot easier for me and my family. I also want to thank them for what they do to try and make Rugby safer. I thank God for helping me through everything, and for giving me this amazing support structure.

Enjoy every day, and use the talents that God give you. Appreciate your friends and family. Be grateful for everything you have. The most important day of your life is today, because today might be all we have.

IB Foster.