Physiotherapist, Ms Alexa Pohl bids farewell as she moves to England

SECUNDA – Well-known local physiotherapist, Ms Alexa Pohl, her husband Warren and their children Cameron (5) and Mackenzie (20 months) will be emigrating to England this month.

“We are ready for a new adventure and change in our lives,” said Ms Pohl.

Ms Pohl grew up in Secunda and matriculated from Highveld Park High School, and then moved to Cape Town to study at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).

She returned to Evander and began her community service year at Evander Hospital in 2008.

“I learnt a lot of life lessons there; I had to grow up very quickly.”

She then joined Ms Vanessa Govender’s practice near the Sasol gym in 2009 until Ms Govender and her family relocated to Johannesburg in 2012.

The year of 2012 is when it all began for Ms Pohl when she opened her practice and built many good relationships with her clients and peers along the way.

In her time of practice she served on the South African Society of Physiotherapy (SASP) committee for many years in various roles of which some included the Gert Sibande regional chairperson and Mpumalanga chairperson.

She also represented physiotherapy on the SasolMed Clinical Coordination Committee (SCCC) in 2013 and 2014.

“It is all bittersweet. It is sad to say goodbye.”

Ms Henriette Nel, practice manager, had been with Ms Pohl from the day she opened her doors, having previously worked together at Ms Govender’s practice.

“She is a wonderful friend and second mother, never mind all the hard work she’s done at the practice. I deeply appreciate everything she’s done for me, my family and our patients,” said Ms Pohl.

Mrs Pohl and her husband, who are high school sweethearts and married for 11 years, both enjoy hiking and will be using the opportunity to emigrate to spend more time on what they enjoy doing. Besides hiking, she enjoys action hockey, pilates and yoga. She’d like to pursue other passions such as running, art and gardening in the future.

Ms Pohl will be joining a physiotherapy practice once over in England and said that everything has lined up and fallen into place like it should.

“We want to de-clutter, minimise our living expenses and focus on living and quality time with each other. I am so excited to go on this adventure with the love of life, my rock, and our two kids.

“I appreciate every single healing journey I have walked with my patients. It has been an honour.

“A lot of people have let me into their safe space, one’s guard comes down when you get touched and I feel I have been blessed with that as a gift to help others. You don’t just treat people’s physical pain, the patient is also dealing with their own mental and emotional pain, and I don’t ever doubt that God gave me that as a gift. He used me in this place, and now I am handing over to someone else that can use this gift as well.”

She assures her clients that they will be left in good hands.

Physiotherapist, Ms Aldelize van Tonder, took over the practice in March this year and will continue with the client base.

Ms Van Tonder joined the practice in January 2018.

Ms Pohl is grateful for all the patients who have supported her over the years.

“To all doctors, health professionals and members of the community I have worked with, I am grateful for the opportunity. All the glory and honour belongs to God,” ended Ms Pohl.