Caden has defied the odds
"His dream is to compete in the Paralympics as a swimmer."
Within just over a year Caden Slabbert has defied the odds and is now an average nine-year-old boy.
In April last year, Caden’s skull was severely damaged when he was hit by a brick inside the vehicle he was travelling in. A titanium plate was used to replace the piece of skull he had lost. According to Andriette Cooper, Caden’s mother, Caden has no memory of the incident.
He had to relearn everything, from walking to talking. Unfortunately, his right side is weaker than his left side as a result of a stroke he had suffered shortly after the incident, resulting in Caden having had to use medication to control his seizures. Thankfully he has not had one in a long time, so he will begin the process of being weaned off the medication.
“It will take two years from the date of the incident to know what the long-term effects of his injury are and what weaknesses will be permanent. But he has almost fully recovered, although he is slightly more outgoing than he was before,” Andriette said.
Caden currently attends the West Rand School in Krugersdorp, but he misses his former school, Monument Primary.
Andriette said Caden will start swimming again, and his goal is to compete in the pool at the Paralympics.
“I want to go to the Olympics and play rugby!” he chimed in.
Unfortunately, due to the injuries he had sustained, he is not allowed to participate in any contact sport.
His family is currently in the process of emigrating to Utah in the United States, and should be leaving within the next month or two. There Caden will attend a mainstream school, although he will need to visit a neurologist every once in a while for a check-up.
Read about Caden’s journey:
[VIDEO] Caden’s head wound finally healed
Caden’s nightmare finally over
[SOUND] Caden in rehab after brick incident
[VIDEO] Caden: “thank you Krugersdorp”
