REECE Smith’s usual cheerful and uplifting nature has been replaced with a more sombre, sobering demeanour as he comes to terms with the growing need for a spinal operation for his scoliosis.

Also read: Support Amanzimtoti Welfare’s thrift shop

Reece, of Wheels on Waves, and his personal platform, Rolling with Reece, suffers from a rare congenital disorder, arthrogryposis, that in Greek translates to “curving of the joints”. This is due to his mother not having enough amniotic fluid during her pregnancy and a premature birth. During his early childhood, he went through over half a dozen operations.

His father Wesley Smith explained, “We’ve known for a while that he needed a spinal operation, but we put it in the back of our minds because it is a very dangerous operation, especially due to Reece’s condition. We’ve been given a 50% chance for Reece to be paralysed from the waist down, so we are setting our sights on getting him the best possible care to lower any chance of surgical risk.”

Also read: Wheels on Waves raises funds for beach wheelchairs

If the operation goes wrong, Reece will no longer be able to father children, he would need a catheter to go to the bathroom and would lose what little independence he has. Worse still, some of the games he plays with his dad involving kicking a ball into a makeshift hoop would no longer be possible.

Reece added that while it is scary, he is drawing on his past experiences and has come to a state of calm. “I’ve been down this rabbit hole before. I’ve had many operations as a toddler, but this may be the first one I’ll remember. So long as I’m at the right place with the right specialists, I’m confident. I’ve had so much support from Amanzimtoti, from family and friends and even people around the world. I’m incredibly grateful for that,” he said.

Currently, the pair are weighing options and doing research on specialist surgeons. They have been in contact with a spinal surgeon based in Cape Town and are putting together funds and making plans to go there for a second opinion.

If you would like to assist Reece with travel and medical expenses, contact 082 802 1349 or email wheelsonwaves24@gmail.com.

Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.