‘Magic’ draws team to Aurora

IT is all about that tiny magic moment, developmental psychologist Marius de Vos says of why he and his team donate their time and skills each year to assist patients at the Aurora Special Needs Centre in Port Elizabeth.

For the past few years he has been joined by paediatric physiotherapist Karin Visman and speech and language specialist Carina Truijens.

“Four years ago the minister at Thandusana, a shelter for abandoned babies in Newton Park, called me to assist with a special needs child,” South African-born De Vos, who now lives in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, said.

He was on holiday in Port Elizabeth at the time.

Soon afterwards, he offered his services to the Aurora centre.

Before long Visman and Truijens joined him on his annual outreach.

“Back in Amsterdam, I said I was going again and they said they were coming along,” he laughed.

De Vos said he worked one-on-one with children with development issues, but “you have to teach the parents too”.

The team is spending eight days this year with children and adults at the Aurora Special Needs Centre.

Truijens said she was delighted to return to Aurora.

“I love coming here. It is also important to me that our relationship with the staff has progressed to a stage where they are comfortable to ask us questions.”

Visman said she loved the creative aspect in coming to the centre.

“We have to ask ourselves what we can do when we have nothing. It makes you more creative.”

De Vos said the greatest reward of their time at the centre was to see that tiny “magic” moment.

“Ultimately we want our patients to grow as human beings. Being with them is not just about entertaining them.”