Recovery from injuries only first step in survival

Their accidents and suffering are not even a statistic. Nobody plans for their arrival at hospital emergency rooms, yet behind every bruise, cut and broken bone there is a painful story of survival

VERNON CASEY TAXI PASSENGER WINDVOGEL ROAD, GELVANDALE

JULY 4 1996. INSPIRATIONAL and communityminded Vernon Casey lost the use of his legs when he broke his neck in a taxi accident.

Sadly and ironically, taxis now just pass him by because loading his wheelchair takes too much time and space. But the quadroplegic does not let that get him down.

“They don’t really pick us up if they see the wheelchair. They move on to the next stop.

“I lost my ability to walk around but now at least share what I go through and help other disabled people.

“The accident changed my life. Now I am into community projects. I want to help people living with disabilities and promote sport in which disabled people compete,” Casey, 41, said.

Almost 18 years ago he was on his way to a soccer meeting after work when the taxi he was travelling in with seven others rolled in Windvogel Road in Gelvandale.

“I broke my neck. Another friend dislocated his shoulder. People told me I was blacking out. I told them I couldn’t get out.

“We had to wave down a private car to take me to Livingstone as the ambulance did not arrive. “The taxi didn’t have seatbelts.” When Casey came round he was told his neck was broken. After spending about four months in Livingstone Hospital, where he was in and out of intensive care because of complications, he was sent to Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital for rehabilitation.

“They couldn’t do anything for me. I could only move my eyes. Only after eight years in a wheelchair I got movement back in my arms.”

After a protracted process Casey was paid out R25 000 by the Road Accident Fund, but that didn’t go very far. He relies on the goodness of his friends to wheel him in and out of his home that is not suitable for a wheelchair.

“I worked before the accident but I was not yet permanent. Now I just depend on my disability grant. The Road Accident Fund paid me R25 000 but that is long gone.” came hurtling down what is now Govan Mbeki Avenue. The vehicle was travelling at one heck of a speed. It smashed into the back of my car,” he said.

“There was a hell of a bang. It almost took out the whole back of the car. I wasn’t treated properly at the scene. There wasn’t a traffic cop, a policeman or an ambulance in sight. Only the tow truck company arrived.”

Rivers, who injured his back, had to drive himself to the doctor. “He referred me to a chiropractor. The chiropractor said I would need treatment for the rest of my life.

“Some said I needed an operation but I didn’t want to go. I still get spasms. I must take pills every day and see the chiropractor every six months,” he said.

“I was paid out by the Road Accident Fund – but it is never enough money. No action was taken against the taxi driver.”

Rivers said he could no longer carry on with his business as his vehicle was written off.

He now focuses on organising events, which requires him to drive around frequently, and he says: “I am very scared of people driving up behind me.” Walmer High School. I was staying with my four sisters and my father. We were in a taxi that was on its way from Motherwell to town. The driver was drunk.

“I don’t know what happened. I woke up in Livingstone Hospital. My arm was broken. Now it does not work at all. I stayed in hospital for six weeks. I had to get several operations. It was my right arm. I am right-handed.”

Puwe went to physiotherapy for about six weeks and was discharged on June 6 2010.

“I was in Grade 11 at the time but I didn’t finish school. I couldn’t do matric. At the time I wanted to become a social worker. Now I get a disability grant. I cannot use my arm at all. I had to teach myself to do everything with my left hand.

“After the accident I hated myself. I drank a lot of pills to kill myself. They booked me into Elizabeth Donkin psychiatric hospital. I got some help then. I was depressed.

“My family always tried to help me. I am a little better now.”

Puwe said she was not asked to give a statement about the accident or go to court to testify.

“Now I have no friends. I am very scared to get into a taxi . . . It is very hard for me. My aunt died in that accident,” she said. the scene for help. Later, “all I remember was my husband arriving and shouting my name. He told me not to die.”

Fusa, who was wearing a seat belt in the taxi, was forced to recover fast. Her family needed her. She did not go for counselling.

“I keep on wondering how I managed to get out of that taxi alive. It scares me.”