One small step to healing, one giant bite for Solo
It is a simple task taken for granted, but being able to feed himself for the first time since falling ill has put former Warriors cricketer Solo Nqweni on Cloud 9.
As an indication that he is feeling in fine spirits, Nqweni joked that he is sticking to his greens to avoid piling on the extra kilos.
In a short video clip posted at the weekend, Nqweni, 27, shared that for the first time since becoming critically ill with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in 2019, he could feed himself unassisted.
Until now, he has had to rely on family or his caregiver to assist him.
“It’s a great feeling to be able to start feeding myself, and at the end of the day to take one step closer towards independence,” he said.
“I’ve had to rely on others to do the simple, everyday basic things so it’s important for me to celebrate the wins along the road.”
The Grey High School matriculant, who represented the Warriors before taking up an overseas club opportunity, is still fighting to regain full control of his body.
GBS is a rare autoimmune disorder which attacks the peripheral nervous system and causes extreme muscle weakness.
Nqweni had also contracted tuberculosis and suffered liver and kidney failure.
He spent four weeks in an induced coma in Scotland, putting an abrupt end to his cricket career.
In May, he contracted Covid-19, but as testimony to his indefatigable spirit he managed to overcome the virus.
On being diagnosed with GBS, doctors did not think he would ever walk or talk again.
But Nqweni proved them wrong.
Slowly but surely, he is getting back his independence.
“I was never a person who took things for granted, I always had my head down and respected hard work.
“It’s just that now I definitely appreciate the simpler things in life.”
While his recovery has been remarkable, Nqweni still has a long way to go in the healing process.
He undergoes physical therapy three times a week.
‘It’s a great feeling to be able to start feeding myself, and at the end of the day to take one step closer towards independence’
“It’s a balance between the frustration of not being able to do things and an appreciation of life really,” he said.
“Things are on the up for sure and I’m hoping to be walking on crutches by June.
“I’m no longer using my wheelchair and that’s progress.
“There are little day-to-day challenges and when you see the small progresses, that is what keeps you going.”