• Tweet

Gerhard van der Merwe, aged 7 years, had very limited sight in his right eye until he was hit by a taxi in front of his parents' house in Potchefstroom about two weeks ago.

Now he can see everything.
 
Beeld newspaper reports that he had been wearing glasses since the age of nine months and could only see with the aid of strong lenses.
 
“Doctors always thought he had very bad eyesight because I am diabetic and injected myself with insulin during my pregnancy. He could barely distinguish light and dark with his right eye,” says his mom, Gretha.
 
Gerhard, a pupil at Baillie Park Primary School, and his 12-year-old sister Nadia were crossing the road when a taxi hit him.
 
“He didn’t see the taxi approaching from his right and walked right in front of it.

“He was flung about 12 metres through the air.

“We were afraid that he was dead," said his mom.
 
But he only hurt his eye and had mild concussion.

Pinched nerves
 
It now appears that Gerhard’s bad eyesight may have been due to pinched nerves.  
 
“In hospital he kept telling us he could see. He had to get stitches in his right eyelid, and it was swollen. So we thought he meant the swelling was subsiding and that he could distinguish light again. But he kept saying he could see,” his mother said.
 
An eye specialist tested Gerhard and said he could read “from the largest to the very smallest letter on the chart”.
 
Dr Gideon du Plessis of the Eye Institute in Pretoria this week confirmed that Gerhard had extremely defective vision in his right eye. He had not examined the boy recently and would not comment on the possibility that the accident had contributed to his improved eyesight.
 
“There have been treatments and the situation had started turning around and improving. He was two years old when we treated him the first time and it had definitely been improving,” Du Plessis said.
 
Gretha said Du Plessis will see Gerhard on a follow-up visit during the July holidays.
 
For Gerhard, who is very fond of fishing and rugby, the best thing is not to have to sit right in front in class any more.
 
“He says that is where all the naughty kids ought to sit.”

Source: Beeld

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Wed May 22 21:48:05 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 22, 2011

spaceboi

"Black man hits white boy with taxi" - you wouldn't think that would be a happy story.
Report Abuse

Jun 22, 2011

candilious

@Spaceboi-hehehehehehehe......

Actually very happy for the boy,congrats. Id rather be deaf then to loose my eye sight.
Report Abuse

Jun 22, 2011

cobra

Pay the taxi driver for this miracle, anyway congrats boy!
Report Abuse

Jun 22, 2011

Memme

So what's so special about this little leburunyana ??
Report Abuse

Jun 22, 2011

skhokho

THEY MUST THANK THE TAXI DRIVER COS HE SAVED THEIR CHILD'S EYESIGHT
Report Abuse

Jun 22, 2011

sushiplate

wait until this little boy goes blind again!
Report Abuse

Jun 22, 2011

spaceboi

@skhokho - they should thank the taxi driver for hitting someone? Wouldnt say that or they'll all try "fixing" people with their bad driving!

Report Abuse

Jun 22, 2011

S.Player

spaceboi
"Black man hits white boy with taxi" - you wouldn't think that would be a happy story.
==================================================================================================
Morning bloggers!Spaceboi can u please help me & show me where does the atticle say the black man was the 1 who was driving,or mybe i'm luzing my eyesight 2.
Report Abuse

Jun 22, 2011

Eezy

Why are whitties not thanking the Taxi driver for his wonderful work done, Next on the list should be Steve Hofmeyer and it should be a bus probably it will knock some sense into his head.
Report Abuse

Jun 22, 2011

Cuteycool

@Memme, lol....

It is indeed a miracle. We thank God for that.
Report Abuse

Read all 479 comments