Slip

"After the opening of one of my solo exhibitions in Cape Town in 2010, we went home, and I entertained a few friends and my neighbour in my studio. We lived in town and had two lofts adjacent to each other. One we lived in and the other I used as my studio and as guest accommodation. Neil excused himself and went to bed. After my guests had left, I wanted to go through my emails but first went to see if Neil was fine. He was fast asleep in our bedroom, which was on the mezzanine level of our larger loft. We used to call them the Pizza Ovens (they were on the top floor and baking hot in summer, and kind of shaped like pizza ovens). On my way down from the bedroom, I slipped halfway down the stairs. The stairs were a new addition, and there was no handrail. I must have instinctively grabbed at a rail, but there was nothing, fell backwards, with the bottom part of my skull hitting the step above. I, of course, can’t remember anything except walking down the steps. I was told - Neil heard the thump of my head hitting the step, and my falling further down and hitting the floor and immediately woke up and came to see what was going on. He found me lying on the lounge floor in a vast pool of blood, which was pumping from my head. He somehow called an ambulance and held my broken, bleeding skull together in his hands until the emergency crew arrived, saving my life. Our block was one block away from the old Christiaan Barnard Hospital in the city centre. They could have carried me to the emergency room, but I was taken by ambulance. The brain surgeon present, Dr Van der Merwe, could not operate immediately due to swelling. My dear, loving man waited there, in what I know was the worst situation in his life, for hours, waiting to hear from the doctor. The next morning, the swelling had subsided enough for them to operate. The doctor informed Neil to expect me not to make it, and should I survive, that I will most probably be severely handicapped, cognitively and otherwise. And for him to alert my family, so they can fly down from Johannesburg. Doctor Van der Merwe did a 6-hour operation, piecing my head back together. Then I remained in a coma for three days. My sister and brother flew down. I can’t imagine how terrifying this time must have been for them, for Neil. I wish they had never had to go through this.

All I remember is opening my eyes and seeing my sister’s beautiful face right in front of my eyes, smiling, as I asked, What are YOU doing here? Everybody sighed with relief knowing I retained my cognitive abilities.

I am incredibly lucky to be alive

unbelievably fortunate to have Neil in my life

and truly blessed with the family surrounding me

I wonder, was it per chance?

Or was it written in the stars?"