[SOUND] Caden in rehab after brick incident

Andriëtte Cooper, the mother of the eight-year-old boy who got hit on the head by a brick while travelling on the N12 with his father and sister, is happy to report about her son’s progress.

Cooper said her son, Caden Slabbert, is making good progress after the brick incident 42 days ago.

Although Caden is on the road to recovery, his mother told the News his behaviour varies between that of a two-year-old, a four-year-old and his own age.

“Caden gets confused with colours and will call green, red and visa versa,” she explained.

He again will have to develop his fine motor skills, which include writing.

If all goes well, Caden may return home by August, but in the meantime his mother is getting their house ‘Caden-friendly’ following an inspection by his therapist.

Sadly Cooper will have to find a new home for their two Labradors. They love to jump up against them, which can be danger to Caden when he returns home.

After showing remarkable progress Caden is allowed to spend the coming weekend with his father Justin Slabbert in Alberton and the next weekend with his mother in Krugersdorp.

Caden is currently in rehab in Auckland Park. He will start play therapy this coming week as part of his road to recovery.

“Thank goodness,” said the mother, as it is closer to her home and she gets to visit him more often.

Cooper has asked Caden if he knew what had happened to him, and why he was in hospital, but he only remembers the hijacking incident he, his sister Eden, 11, and his father were involved in over two years ago.

“He is starting to show more interest in what happened to him, especially when I told him he had been in the newspaper,” Cooper said.

Although doctors are satisfied with the healing of the wound on his head, they plan to replace the piece of his skull only in four weeks’ time.

In a telephonic interview with the News, listeners can hear Cooper chatting to Caden in the background while giving an update on his recovery.

His sister Eden has been seeing a psychologist since the incident in April, to help her deal with the trauma she experienced as she witnessed the brick hitting her brother.

“I am very grateful to the school for accommodating us in this challenging time in our lives.”

It is believed Eden is experiencing flashbacks of the incident and has since dealt with the guilt she was feeling regarding the terrible day.

“It was very difficult for Eden when she saw her brother again for the first time. He is not who he used to be. People think he is the same, but he is not. We know that this is only temporary and believe in our hearts that he will recover fully,” Cooper said optimistically.