31 July 2019

Like so many thousand times I went running on Farm Windhoek. It was the last training check for the 4-day Naukluft Trip planed on the 10th next month. I took Traders Trail, steep and high, some bikers were still around. I thought to myself: Do I go back the same way or around the back? I shook off the doubts and went around. With the sun low on the horizon I picked up the pace. Getting into the valley a guy walked in my direction on the single track. I slowed, greeted, thinking it was one of the guards. The dogs passed him and then he stopped just one and a half meters infront of me, blocking the narrow track…

Slowly he reached for his left pocket, pulled a knife and reached with his right hand over to open it. In split seconds I saw in my mind how I am pierced with stabs – bleeding to death – with no one in reach to cry for help. The reaction was automatic. I pulled my pepper spay and emptied the can in his face.

Stunned I realized that nothing happened! He did not budge, bent down to wipe his eyes on his sleeve and returned with a blow to my upper lip and nose that sent me into a summersault backwards. Yet I found myself again standing infront of him as another blow came. I half jumped into the another summersault to get away. Again face to face, his knife fiddling at my body. He managed to cut one of the dog leashes tied around my hip, swearing. It was then that I asked him to just back-off and I will open the clip of my belt to give it to him. This worked. He had what he wanted. My phone and my car key. We both went our way. Just once I looked back asked if I could get my key. But changed my mind and ran, my hand on the bleeding lip. I had one and a half kilometers still to go and the night was closing in. The guards would be leaving and all other people too. Picking up the pace with burning eyes, getting closer to the gate I started crying for help. I few people including the farmer were still there. He dashed to the crime scene somewhere in the bush. Some nice guy took me home to get the spare key. It didn’t work. The pushed the car into the yard to overnight and took me home. Thanks to all! I am truly grateful.

1 August 2019

Had a good night’s sleep.  Next I had to get my car back.  I phoned a good friend and he arranged the loading of the unfortunately unmoveable Benz.  A very friendly Mercedes Garage disconnected the stolen key and fixed the spare key.  I felt lousy, shaken and tired.  Next was a doctor’s check for concusion or any cracked bones.  A CT scan looked perfectly fine and I went home.  Recovering…sleeping, trying to think of what I could have done differently.  Would I have shot him if carrying a gun?  Yes, at this moment, yes.  Looking back – no, because appart from the blow I was unscathed.  Little did I know what was to come!

2 – 5 August 2019

2 days sick leave and a weekend to rest.  My lip was swollen and turning blue.  And so was my right cheek.  There was a spot of blood in my left eye.  Bruises everywhere.   Day 5 below right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 to 9 August 2019

Days at work were still slow going. On Wednesday I felt ok to go through with the planned Naukluft Trip. We left on the Saturday and started hiking on that Sunday morning.
I thought being in Nature will get rid of the trauma and make me feel whole again. And it did!
On day three I was much better and almost stopped thinking about the assault.
We were back at the camp on Wednesday and me and a friend moved on to some more hiking at Namibgrens and a trip to Swakopmund, returning on Saturday.

10 September 2019

The headaches were getting severe. The thought of Parkinson’s or some weird nervous syndrome was driving me crazy. Part of the slowly developing issues were the control of my right foot and hand. I could not hold a cup straight or put a glass down level. I missed the gas pedal and kept on stepping on the brakes of the automatic. I could not lift my leg over the bike nor get it on the pedal. Balance was off. I fell twice with the bike trying to figure out what was wrong.
I tripped and stepped on the dogs and generally kept on dropping stuff. Then I had difficulties typing. I missed the buttons. Writing didn’t work. Alzheimer’s? Parkinson’s? I was going crazy!!!!
Then I started vomited the whole night. There was nothing left, no sip of water, no pain tablet lasted longer than 5 minutes in my body. The day continued like this.
Another day sick leave. I was going insane…
Tomorrow is my Doctor’s appointment – again.

11 September 2019

I went to work, late, dragging myself along. I was badly dehydrated. The headaches insane. From the Doctor’s at 11 maybe 12 straight home to grab just some emergency clothing and toothbrush. I had to go for a CT scan at Lady Pohamba Hospital. Little did I know that I would stay 6 days.
Scan was done after lunch. I wasn’t allowed any food or drink.
Then the Neurologist saw me, knocked me about…another doctor came I did now know, had never seen. It was the Neuro surgeon apparently. A nurse was speaking on their behalf, trying to explain to me the urgency of the operation.
I was simple overruled, shocked, no words for this mess. An MRI followed. Same results. A haematoma measuring some 10x5x2 cm in my left brain and bilateral bleeding squashing my brain into a tight ball, no windings to be seen anymore.
I was put to sleep before entering the theater. I have no recollection of when I somehow woke up with pipes and drip and stuff on my head, drainage pipes and canisters next to me. But somehow I was alive.
Talking was almost impossible. I had no words. It came mingled or rather not at all. There was no pain.
12 and 13 September were awful. You cannot sleep in ICU. Every half hour blood pressure, air bags on my legs inflating alternately.
By that time I had started to at least go to the bathroom.
Then the Neuro surgeon literally ripped of the plasters and cut something with a scalpel on my head. I head the scraping in my bone and the pain.
The drains were removed and I was remove out of ICU.

17 September 2019

Another CT scan was done yesterday. Finally on Tuesday I was allowed out after the Doctor came to see me. He assured me that all went well.
Devastatingly I realized that I will not be able to fly to Germany on 25th. My visit to the children had to be postponed for at least 2 month. Another sad link to the happenings.

Slow recovery, but everythings seems to “work”. I sleep a lot, no TV, little cell or PC. No noise. I may/must walk and swim.

14 October 2019

Today is the first day that I feel “I’m healing”. I was at work for 4 hours, but am exhausted. Had to sleep over lunch.
I had a second opinion of the OP regarding the outcome and urgency from a maxillo-facial surgeon. I am happy to be alive! All else does not matter now. The more than N$200 000 medical bill will still have to be sorted. NMC has done great so far.

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