"Neil Cycling the Course" 30" x 24" Oil on Canvas |
Prep Sketch |
Neil has long since loved being underestimated and proving his abilities to doubters. In his early 30’s with a brilliant new wife in tow – he left SA to work in the UK. It was here he met Professor Ferner, the head of Neurology at Guys, St Marks in London. Prof Ferner made him feel understood (Psychologically more than anything else). The explosion of knowledge was very rewarding. Prof Ferner remains a leading NF authority. Plus, she was kind and treated me like an intellectually sound individual. THE NHS were brilliant in managing his NF although the knowledge and experience is still very limited and even their surgeons or specialists were hesitant to operate or “cut” because they had no experience – Neil remains a medical curiosity to this day. By now he tell doctors stuff they are guessing.
Neil returned to South Africa in 2002 – with his wife and 2 beautiful kids and was ready for the challenges his country likes to pose. This is when the management of his NF become more complex MRI’s, bones, gastro, and lots of cutting. He had found some great doctors, Dr Richard Brink his physician does a brilliant job cutting of fibromas. He recently had several cut off his face and the scars are almost invisible. Dr Lia Mavroard is a fantastic neurologist.
They say "NF warrior" and they are right – it's warrior class and he is a 52-year-old last man standing gladiator. It’s about confidence and a never ever say die attitude. Luck is a critical factor and his primary luck is having an immense support structure built of a wife, family and a select group of friends. It’s is his impenetrable shield as a warrior – they fight for me, defend me and never let me believe that I am anything but vastly superior. It is vital as an NF sufferer to have a support structure – it is the sacred foundation upon which NF can be dealt with for a lifetime. You need the experts, The Prof Ferner, The Richard Brinks and the Lea Movroardis, Dr Barrows these and other kind and committed medical practioners. The number of times my results have been sent to the medical panel or the weekly discussion board are too frequent to mention. But there have been some unkind, uncaring and stupid doctors. You need love, a wife, special kids, a family, friends and reading, traveling and maybe a hobby. Cycling is his perpetual mistress and largely carved his identity into the bark of the world. It is the pure joy of moving fast and looking like everyone else because at speed we are all blurred. It’s because it’s outdoors. The sheer pleasure of pitting a racing heart against a raging hill is an undying love.
Neil also enjoys being with like-minded people and watching the sunrise start the day. He was a sponsored athlete in a sponsored car. He has done thousands of races including 7 Cape Epics. He has been to the 4 corners of the world on his bike and he doesn't see himself stopping anytime soon. He has created mountain bike clubs, written for magazines and enjoys some infamy in the cycling community. It proved that he will not be limited.
In 2009, Neil had a horrific crash and rolled his sponsored Fortuner 6 times and obliterated everything in the car including himself. He escaped by a miracle of athletic conditioning and luck. He was really fortunate (pun) to survive and his ability to fight against NF helped his fight against dying from injuries and infection. In the hospital, Angels came to collect him and it was an attractive offer with a bonus plan and a nice house but I said I had things to do and promises to keep before he died. One was to raise his children, another was to ride with a dying friend across South Africa in the Jozi2C and another is to help others combat NF. A friend said, “God wants you to do stuff, don’t waste the chance”. Today I start by being an NF fighter.
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