The former Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard is currently playing “the hardest game of his life”.
This is what the singer and Hougaard’s friend, Nádine, said on Facebook on Wednesday morning.
Loftus’ Darling, as Hougaard is known, is currently fighting a lung infection in the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria and is still not awake after he was found unconscious in his home last week. His infection count has since decreased, which is good news for his loved ones.
According to Nádine’s entry, Hougaard’s left lung collapsed three days ago and on Monday also the lower part of his right lung.
“His lung specialist performed a second bronchoscopy and turned Derick over twice in three days, which helps his lungs to breathe in different positions.
“After yesterday’s treatment, it is possible for the doctors to better determine which bacteria still need to be treated and with the infection count being lower than any previous day, they know that the antibiotics are working well,” she wrote.
Nádine says this is “good news” for them.
Hougaard is currently still under strong anesthesia, otherwise his lungs apparently work against the ventilator to which he is connected.
And for those who have questions about why Hougaard is being treated in the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Nadine says it was on the recommendation of the “incredible ambulance staff when we urgently had to decide where” to take him.
“I trust their insight in such a situation better than my own. They said that he should go directly to an intensive care unit and would have to stay there indefinitely.
“I am grateful Derick was admitted there because I can testify that the doctors and nursing staff are fantastic in this department. I believe that Derick gets the best treatment and care there.”
She says that Hougaard is also too critical to be moved elsewhere and that for this reason no other scans are being done on him – apart from taking X-rays of his lungs.
“He is stable, but his lungs are very sick, so we constantly pray for healing, for oxygen and less carbon dioxide in his body.
“Thank you for continuing to believe, continuing to pray and for all the love. That means an incredible amount.”
