Hans and Sharon Potgieter.MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The morning of December 16, 2014 started like any normal day for Mossel Bay residents and newlyweds Sharon and Hans Potgieter, heading to the airfield to go on a breakfast flight down the coast of Mossel Bay.
They set off in a light aircraft, had breakfast at a small town along the way, stopped off at another small town and headed back home. On the flight back home, they experienced problems with the aircraft they were flying and had to force land on an open field.
Sharon sustained an injury in the accident that was a break in the T12 vertebra, which resulted in her being paralyzed from the waist down. Hans had minor injuries only.
She was airlifted from George to Cape Town and transported via ambulance to Grootte Schuur Hospital where they operated to repair any damage they could. The day after the operation, feeling had returned from her waist to her knees and slight movement in her legs. The return of feeling, movement and sensation from just below the knees has not returned. She was classified as a L1 Incomplete Paraplegic, meaning that only partial movement and feeling has returned.
The damage to the nerves which operate her feet, is too great. She spent three months in rehabilitation where she progressed to be able to walk with the aid of AFO's (splints) which support her ankles while holding on to objects.
Eventually she could walk with the AFO's and crutches. With the constant pressure under her feet, the threat of pressure ulcers is huge, and she developed one which took six months to heal. This threat will always be there.
Having to stay off her feet caused her tendons to shorten making her feet curl inwards and upwards. She now cannot use the AFO's either and basically is bedridden and the only way of moving about is in a wheelchair.
Sharon has decided to have her lower legs amputated and to get prosthesis. This will enable her to walk without the constant threat of pressure ulcers and to return to her passion which is flying/aviation. With no medical aid available, the cost of the operation, physiotherapy and prosthesis (which must be replaced every four years) will amount to about R250 000.
Sharon has created a Facebook page, Fly Sharon Fly, to help create a platform in order to raise funds. Their accountant, Abe Zwiegelaar, has opened a savings account for any donations. Abe can also be contacted at 082 851 8417.
The banking details are as follow: Nedbank Savings account number 2008 478 815 and branch code 147 205.
Source: http://www.mosselbayadvertiser.com
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