A fun, loving and caring learner from Eunice High School, Bianca Rees-Gibbs (17), is just like any teenage girl who enjoys spending time with her friends and loved ones.
Gibbs aspires to represent the South African women’s hockey team in the next Olympic tournament. Unfortunately, as soon as Bianca stepped on the Astro field for a hockey match earlier this month, the 17-year-old suffered from a stroke and is currently recovering in Rosepark Hospital.
Her father, Jason Rees-Gibbs, confirmed that after vigorous tests were conducted, it was confirmed that Bianca had a curable virus that was activated due to the 17-year-old having influenza two weeks before the stroke.
“Bianca was unable to pick up her hockey stick and could not speak at some point, those were the warning signs that my daughter was experiencing something that we did not expect,” Rees-Gibbs mentioned. “A battery of blood tests have been run and everything came out quite well and confirms that there are no underlying illnesses, the only marker that is quite alarming for us is the curable virus,” Rees-Gibbs confirmed.
Bianca’s father further confirmed that the healing procedure could take some time and that she will later be transferred to Hillandale for a week where speech therapy as well as physio will be the order of the day.
She should be returning to school as soon as there is suitable progress. “We will reassess her sporting career, but for now, we are just grateful for Bianca’s second chance at life,” Rees-Gibbs concluded.
Abigail Visagie