“It’s not too simple to explain but he wakes up in intervals during the course of the day. He opens his eyes and is able to move his arms and legs,” explained his father, Rynfield resident, Justin Slabbert.
He explained that doctors suspect that the severe injuries young Caden sustained, after the brick which was thrown into the car hit him, may have caused a stroke.
“The right side of his body is not as mobile as his left and he is not yet fully conscious,” he added.
His father added that the little boy is not yet able to speak but cries a lot when he is awake.
His older sister, Eden (11), who was travelling with her father and brother on the fateful day was unharmed in the incident but has started counselling sessions. She has returned to school since the incident on May 13 and seems to be adjusting well.
“It’s an unpredictable time for us and we’re on a long road where we encounter each challenge as it comes and deal with it then,” he said.
The family has had an overwhelming number of messages and prayers of support and have since started a “Caden Slabbert” Facebook profile. People are welcome to leave messages for the little boy and are also given updates on his progress.
The latest update on the Facebook profile reads as follows:
“Update 12 – ok, here goes, the next big switch to be switched on is me coming out of a coma completely, right now I’m almost half way there. I can open my eyes, I can cry, I have a swallow reflex, i can moan, especially when the physio comes to do her thing. This weekend I sat up for the first time, and started looking around, all the things we take for granted, for me are HUGE miracles, the doctor is amazed at the rate of my recovery… all your prayers are counted and I’m grateful for each one”
