GEORGE NEWS - Alison Botha was discharged from hospital to a stepdown clinic two weeks ago, but has had a setback and has returned to hospital, according to a 19 November post on her Facebook page.
Botha had been hospitalised after suffering an aneurysm on 25 September. Following surgery to insert a stent to drain fluid from her brain, she recovered sufficiently to go to a rehabilitation facility.
According to Tania Koen, her attorney, she had a 17-minute chat with Botha during a visit last week and the setback was completely unexpected.
Botha was transported by ambu-lance to a bigger public hospital facility with the necessary equipment to do the required tests. They are now awaiting the results of MRI scans and chest X-rays before any details about her condition can be provided.
"Her brain is very sensitive for pressure, and it could be that the stent is blocked; we don't know. The prognosis has always been that the road to healing would be a long and difficult one.
She was in a private rehabilitation centre for two weeks which had been made possible by generous members of the public who donated towards the fund that was established for her rehabilitation."
According to the post on her Facebook page, Alison's days "are long, and the progress slow and taxing".
"But Alison is committed despite so many of the realities setting in and the fear of the unknown as to how long this very difficult road is going to be - when you are not 27 and healthy."
After the insertion of the stent, Botha's speech, sight and short-term memory returned. However she is unable to sit up independently, stand or walk, and needs rehabilitation.
In 1997 she had miraculously survived an atrocious assault and rape in Gqeberha by Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger, who were released on parole last year after serving the minimum time required of their life sentences.
Members of the public who would like to donate towards her medical expenses, may contact Tania Koen on e-mail at tkatt@mweb.co.za.
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