Learning that your child was involved in an accident is every parent’s worst nightmare, and for the Goosen-family from Wellington that fateful day was 1 December 2021, when their 8-year-old son Dicklin was hit by a car.
According to his mother, Hilda, the accident took place after school in the Upper Hermon Road. She was told Dicklin wanted to cross the road and went around the front of the bus, and he was hit by a bakkie.
For 18 days he lay in a coma at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.
The accident left Dicklin with a severe traumatic brain injury, a skull fracture and harm to his right eye – which meant multi-disciplinary therapy was needed to ensure he made some form of recovery.
Doctors referred him to St Joseph’s Home in Montana, Cape Town and he was admitted on 5 February this year.
“On admission he was wheelchair-bound and needed complete assistance for all activities of daily living such as bathing, eating, dressing and even playing,” explained occupational therapist Kashiefa Creighton.
“Dicklin received intense rehabilitation and was seen for occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy. And as part of his rehabilitation process, he attended St Joseph’s School daily.”
After the accident his first visit back home was for the Easter Weekend.
According to Creighton his smile grew each day and his fierce fighting spirit aided his progress and now, after only six months of holistic care, Dicklin has made remarkable progress in all aspects of his daily living.
“He is able to walk short distances independently and uses a walking frame for long distances. His improved mobility enabled him to enjoy a variety of activities and he particularly enjoys playing in the park on his favourite ride, the merry-go-round.”
In 2020, St Joseph’s Home launched a specialised play park that was customised for children with disabilities – deemed a great tool in therapy and inclusive play. What’s more, the little patients love it.
“One of the greatest challenges we face in rehabilitation of survivors with acquired brain injuries is the ability of the brain and body to work together in a synchronised way, which is called cognitive motor ability, coordination and dexterity in our terms,” Creighton explained.
“Dicklin has improved so much that he has retained all his basic learning skills and has overcome most of his classroom challenges.
“He is able to write with improved pencil control and is also able to use technology such as the classroom tablet for certain integrated learning activities.”
St Joseph’s Home also said it would not have achieved its therapeutic goals without input and assistance from his dedicated parents, Hilda and David, who played a pivotal role in his rehabilitation.
According to Goosen her son, now 9 years old, will soon come home for good.
“I am extremely grateful to St Joseph’s Home for all it has done for Dicklin,” she said. “It really means a lot to us.”
