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I Can



Believe in yourself
Believe in your dreams
Believe that youre special
Believe that you can...



By Cy and Wendy Edmondson
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What others are saying about the book

A quick and easy read with a most inspiring
message. What I enjoyed most was the positive
message that flows from every page. Patti
Kramer Eden College

What a refreshing, inspiring and awesome book. It
is just Schiznie!!!! I wish there were more stories
as I could read it for ages. Your manner of writing
is as if you are sitting and chatting to me. It is a
book for all ages and leaves a lasting impression. I
take my hat off to you and your family. I
thoroughly enjoyed the humour and honesty in
the book. I look forward to more reading more of
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your books. May your lives be filled with happiness
and joy! You are an inspiration! - Kate Rose
Crawford Schools Head Office

Through the laughter and tears, this book is not
only a huge learning curb for children and adults
alike, but an awesome inspiration to life in every
perspective. Now I know I Can! Sherry Lurie







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Title: I CAN
Author: Cy & Wendy Edmondson
Company: Another point of view
Umhlanga, South Africa
www.anotherpointofview.co.za

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without written permission from the author,
except for the brief quotations in a review.

Copyright Cy Edmondson
First edition 2007
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Acknowledgements
To my loving and supporting wife, Wendy, who
has helped and guided me to following my dreams.
She has been there through the good times and
the bad. She is my rock and I will love her forever.
To my son, J osh who has been an inspiration to
me. As Wendy says, Our future lies in the dreams
of our kids. J osh, you are a true testament to this.
We love you for you - and always will.
To my parents. My Dad for his humour, and my
Mom for her loving support.
To my in-laws, Ruth and Sharl. Sharing your wise
words of support and encouragement. Through
bad and good times. You will always be close to
my heart.
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To our editor, Lisa Cooper. Thank-you for your
valuable input and minute attention to detail. It
wouldnt have been possible without your
guidance and constant encouragement.
Last, but not least. To all the teachers, kids and
parents out there, willing to change. Working
together and conquering the negativity that
surrounds us in todays society.
Thanks to Peter Barrett for his time and dedication
in designing the cover for I Can.
Sincerest thanks to Tony and Wayne of EZprint at
the Crescent - Umhlanga for the professionalism in
their photographs and assistance in creating the
best possible quality

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The future lies in the dreams of our kids







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About the Author

In 1990, during a school leadership course, Cy fell ill
with an unknown virus which attacked his spinal
cord. After three months in a coma, he regained
consciousness but had to learn to deal with the heavy
burden of being disabled for the rest of his life. He had to
learn how to speak again and to come to terms with the
fact that he would never walk again.
During a stay in hospital, Cy developed a close
relationship with his nurse, Wendy Lurie, and they
married in 1994.
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Although they were advised that producing children
would be a near miracle, if at all possible, their son,
J oshua, was born in April 1995.
Despite his disability, Cy continually directs his energy
towards assisting individuals in steering their lives
towards their personal destinies whether they be family
or relationship orientated, directing their focus on
personal goals, or making profound contributions to
organizations and communities.
In November 2000, Cy accepted the challenge of
climbing the Sentinel Peak in the Drakensberg, defying
the rules of disability and making history in the process.



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Foreword

Having heard Cy Edmonson deliver his address at Hilton
College in J anuary of 2007 at Hilton College, it has been
my pleasure to read his book covering his short and
vibrant life. As I remarked in my report on his
presentation, this is an important book for all young
people to read. It covers, in a human and illustrative way,
the power of dreams and the aspirations that all of us
have and few have been able to achieve. The fact
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that Cy could well have curled up and literally died but,
most importantly DID NOT is the important message to
take from his moving story. His is a remarkable
account of the power of the human spirit. He has, despite
crippling adversity, made the conscious decision to
celebrate life and to live each day to the fullest. As you
travel with him through his life's journey, he inspires and
uplifts you and makes you think what you and I can and
should achieve and that the only limits are the limits you
impose on yourself. This is a commendable book filled
with human interest and urges one to celebrate life even
in the darkest night.


Anthony Durnford Deputy Director of Academic
Studies HILTON COLLEGE
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Chapter 1

From able bodied to disabled. From consultant to leader.
From looking to conquering. From merely existing - to
living. These are the mountains Ive climbed, and this is
my story.

I started boarding school when I was eight years old, and
only then because my big brother went and I was jealous!
For the first three months I was miserable and wanted to
go home. Everyone kept telling me that I wouldnt be
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homesick forever. They just didnt understand. I wasnt
sick of home - I wanted to go home! Luckily this feeling
soon passed, and before long I was getting up to the
same mischief that most other eight-year-olds do.

I made many friends, some of them life-long, and spent
my weekends with them on surrounding farms. I had a
busy life - chatting up the girls, playing touch rugby,
socialising Id go for long runs in the conifer plantations
and spend time fishing and playing tennis and squash
down the street. As the years passed, I developed a love
for sport, which helped to strengthen my already
persistent determination to succeed. Youd find me at any
rugby, tennis or cricket function if I wasnt playing, Id
be there supporting.
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As a teenager I was pretty independent. School holidays
consisted of visiting girlfriends, clubbing, and earning
pocket money by helping my old man mix cement, cut
bushes, paint various rooms of the house, etc, etc, etc -
you get the picture!

I loved alternate music, and the more black I wore, the
cooler I looked (or so I thought, anyway!). The perfect
outfit was a tight black shirt and black tapered pants with
black Winklepicker shoes (the pointier the better). And
a long black trench coat to top it off. Eye-liner was also
part of my attire, and one dangly earring. I had a
moderate build, but with all the black plus the Durban
heat, I probably sweated half my body weight away! I
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was cool; I walked with my head high and a swagger in
my shoulders.

Fortunately, my moms one of those very accommodating
types, with only a little temper if provoked - the best
anyone could have from a mom. We used to talk about
everything and she never seemed to judge me, or my
decisions. I remember her having a calm, peaceful way of
guiding me through my various teenage phases. My dad
was always different. He used to rip me off, referring to
my attire as coffin-kid whatever! With his unique sense
of humour, he taught me that nothing in life comes for
free (hence all the holiday chores). He also instilled in me
that laughter really and truly is the best medicine, which I
was grateful for in the years to come.
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Id be home for long week-ends and holidays. Walking
through the front door after first term, looking forward to
a warm welcome, my dad would say
Whore you? Hey look, its that guy who used to
visit us a few years ago It wasnt really that funny then,
but I have to smile at the thought now. I always made
my way straight to my bedroom, which was the garage. I
loved it there. It was my space. I even spray-painted all
my favourite bands on the walls. It was pure bliss. Id
immediately get changed into my black attire, ready to hit
the streets.
Cheers Mom, Dad.
Hey, wherere you going? my Dad would ask.
Dunno, Ill see you in a weeks time.
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Oh, ok. Bye. Be careful. And that was my holiday
routine: a brief encounter with the folks, then off to do
my own thing.

I hitchhiked everywhere - day or night, rain or sun. In
those days it was most male teenagers mode of transport.
Sleeping on a park bench or at the back of some guys car
Id just met was pretty much a norm. Id wake up and
make my way to the local shopping centre to get
freshened up and ensure that I smelt good and had clean
teeth. Id walk down the aisles trying on tester
deodorants and gargling mouthwash and then swallowing
it (you never know who you might see at the Mall!)

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Going back to school after the holidays always brought
me back on track though, the straight and narrow so to
speak. Being involved in sport made me my own hero.
Sport got you all you wanted in a co-ed school: fame,
girls, and a few bruises. Everything a teenager could
want! If there was mischief around, Id usually be at the
bottom of it, and had the tendency to always see the
funny side of things. I was also the school comedian,
which helped with my popularity stakes, but didnt bring
me too many girlfriends. Its one of those things that I
wish Id learnt from the beginning.




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Chapter 2

The school bell rings, its time for break.
Ok, pack up and make your way, quietly, to the
playground, you lot. The excitement from the teacher
was almost parallel with the kids. Break-time after a two
period session of maths - what a relief for all of us! I
sprinted down to the hostel hoping to be first in line for
sarmies. Shaun and Nigel, my two best mates, had kept
me a place in the line.
Hey, Cy, Sean said between mouthfuls of peanut
butter and jam sarmies, rugbys cancelled. What ya
gonna do this afternoon?
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Go for a run in the plantations. Coming?
No chance, I have to study. I shrugged casually.
Cool, Ill go on my own then. That was my life.
Between playing touch rugby on the field and chatting
with the girls, there were no worries. Choices were
simple: do I chat, or do I go and play touch? I was
getting myself ready to play first-team rugby. Had to
make it this year. I love my rugby!

The following day, the principal called an assembly and
announced the trial prefects. My name came up.
Yes! Id made it. The potential privileges of
prefect-hood flashed before me authority, respect,
lights out late, our own dorm I couldnt wait. A week
passed and I was so excited to finally be going on the
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leadership course. It was in the bush and I was feeling a
little under the weather with a tummy bug, but that didnt
worry me. Id have to be dead to miss this.

The camp was beautiful. Waterfalls and bush all around,
with a rustic feel. The activities were awesome, including
abseiling during the day and the campfire chats at night.
I remember feeling a true sense of belonging, and we
developed a strong bond amongst ourselves, and with
nature. Two days passed and then we were summoned to
go night hiking with nothing but one torch for the leader
of the group. The point was to build trust amongst the
teams.
The weather was cold and wet, and you couldnt see
anything in front of your face. My stomach was still
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playing up and Id started feeling a bit irritable. The last
thing I felt like was slipping and sliding in wet mud in the
darkness. My body felt weak and hollow. The final straw
was when the leader in front of me accidentally
catapulted the branch he was holding into my face. I felt
the sharp, sudden sting of a slap, and small twigs of the
branch scratched my cheeks. I slumped down onto my
knees, unable to pull myself up. My group panicked.
Cy, you ok? I barely nodded, and stared at the
droplets of rain running off my hair and mingling with the
tears that stung my eyes. The leader radioed camp and
asked that someone come and assist me.
Theres something wrong with Cy, Sir! I heard
him say in an unsteady voice. I got back to camp and was
given something warm to drink. I dont remember falling
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asleep. The next morning I felt slightly better, almost as if
I had a hangover, but the stomach bug hadnt left yet.

Two weeks later I still hadnt got rid of my bug. I felt like
I had a heavy dose of flu and the runs and stomach
cramps were really making me feel weak. I finally decided
to see the local GP, who gave me some tablets for my
bladder and an injection for flu. The next morning I was
so fragile that I couldnt even get out of my bed. The
hostel master took one look at me and summoned my
buddies, Shaun and Nigel, to assist me to his car. Shaun
bundled me into the passenger seat, but I couldnt even
hold my own head up so Nigel jumped into the back seat
behind me and held me steady. I cant remember what
they were saying; their voices were distant muffles, like a
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dream. The next thing I remember was waiting for the
doctor in the girls hostel. I noticed that the girl I was
fond of was also waiting to see the doctor. I put on a
brave face (I had a reputation to protect, you know!).
I dont look so good right now, hey? I said as
casually as I could manage in my stupor.
Cy, you really dont look so good, she answered
seriously. Are you sure youre going to be ok?
Of course I will, just a bad bout of flu, I replied
with a shrug. I somehow didnt feel the conviction of my
own words.

The doctor didnt hesitate. He advised the teacher on
duty to take me to Christ the King Hospital urgently. It
was one of those clinic-type hospitals which unfortunately
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dont have the necessary equipment to deal with critical
situations, just the basic drips and beds. I felt as if I was
slipping into deep sleep for hours at a time, only to awake
and see that only ten minutes had passed. I remember,
as if in a foggy tunnel, Matron Swinscoe from my hostel
standing beside me, her face drawn and her eyes darting
from my face to the doctor questioningly. Her mouth was
moving but I heard no words. I dont remember much
from this point.

When I finally opened my eyes again my mom and dad
were standing in front of my bed. Oh boy, I thought
this must be pretty serious. Its a one-and-a-half hour
drive to the school. My parents later told me that the
doctors had advised them that I needed to get to a better
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equipped hospital as soon as possible as I was
deteriorating. The problem was that if they flew or drove
me anywhere, there was a chance that I wouldnt make
the trip. They decided to take the risk and I was
transported to St Augustines Hospital in Durban by
ambulance.

That night my heart stopped and I was rushed from High
Care to ICU. This was a ward with only five beds and a
sister allocated to each one. Now it was really getting
serious! From what Ive been told, my condition was very
erratic and unstable and my chance of survival was slim.
After the third night in hospital my folks were called in.
Mr and Mrs Edmondson, as you know, your son is
very unstable. Id like to suggest to you both that you
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treat every visit as your last. My parents sat in stunned
silence. They were in shock. This is our son, they were
thinking. This isnt possible, and its unacceptable. Why
must he die first? Its not supposed to work that way

The following morning my parents arrived at the hospital
to meet the local priest. He wasnt there for a social visit.
He was there to give the last rites. A mother and fathers
worst nightmare was becoming a reality as they prepared
themselves to deal with the death of their youngest child.
A week passed. I was in a coma and hooked up to a life
support system by this stage. My parents were living a
nightmare. Tempers flared, reason fled and accusations
flew. The doctors and staff werent doing enough my
parents needed answers! No sleep, no food, the quiet
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breaking of their hearts clearly showed on their faces. As
I eventually stabilized they began feeding me through a
tube in my nose. I was emaciated and had bedsores the
size of tennis balls covering my buttocks - but I was alive.











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Chapter 3

When I finally opened my eyes again it was to see the
stark whiteness of the ceiling above my bed. I smelt
detergent and the sickly-sweet smell of disinfectant. I
could hear a continuous beep-whoosh sound next to me
but I couldnt turn my head sideways to see what it was.
Where was everyone? I felt confused, as if Id fallen
asleep and been moved. My dad used to do that when I
fell asleep in front of the TV sometimes - Id miraculously
wake up in my bed the next morning. Only this wasnt my
bed.
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Moments later an unfamiliar but friendly face appeared
above me.
Cy, I heard her say in a quiet, soothing voice,
welcome back. I tried to ask her where I was, I had the
words in my head, but my voice had no sound, not even
the rasping of air passing through my throat. When the
kind face and soothing voice began to explain my
surroundings to me, my heart began to pound loudly.
How could I possibly have slept for three months! Where
were my parents? Was I meant to play rugby today? Why
couldnt I speak? And what was wrong with my damned
arms? As an overwhelming tiredness swept over me, the
bright whiteness of the room hazed over, turning from
grey to black. I slowly drifted from the real world back
into my familiar cocoon.
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Far in the distance, I heard my parents. Their voices were
growing closer and closer, as if in a tunnel. They were
calling my name, over and over. They were in my dream.
No wait it wasnt a dream. I slowly lifted my heavy
eyelids and saw them standing anxiously beside my bed.
They looked so tired I could see big black rings around
their eyes. I could also see from their faint, unconvincing
smiles that something tragic had happened. What was it?
What was wrong? TELL ME! Instead, they both gave me a
kiss and simply said that theyd missed me. I tried
desperately to respond, but all I could manage was to
click my tongue in response. (This later became my form
of communication - one click meant yes, and two clicks
meant no.)

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I wanted answers but the nurses did nothing more than
carefully mother me and smile encouragingly. Two days
passed before a doctor finally came through to see me.
He sat down with a nervous smile on his face.
Cy, I need to speak to you about your situation.
Click, I replied with my tongue.
Its amazing that youre alive, he said gravely.
However, we expect that youll be paralyzed from your
neck down, and wont be able to see out of your left eye
again. Oh, and youll also have slight brain damage...

I stared into space for a while, desperately trying to
comprehend what hed just said. What kind of a sick joke
was this to play on someone? I stared at him as a slight
tear rolled down my face. Hate boiled deep within my
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stomach. It was his fault. I turned my head slowly to look
at my mom, convinced that shed burst out laughing at
the mere thought of what Id just been told. She didnt.
Instead, rasping sobs escaped her throat, confirming the
bitter truth.

I remember my mind freezing for an instant. In the
seconds that followed I simply didnt believe him. Then all
the things I still needed to do began to line up in quick
succession: playing rugby ... socialising with my friends
dating. Girlfriends! What now?? Could I ever get one?
Would anyone ever love me??

Time seemed a blur, but later that night, in the stillness
of the High Care ward, I finally came to a realization.
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There was a choice to be made and I had to make it. It
was difficult, but I felt within myself that the choices that
I had to make that night were ones that would determine
my very destiny.

Cy, you have a choice, pal, I said to myself
sternly. You can either sit here and feel sorry for
yourself; or you can go back out into the big world with
an I CAN attitude.

There and then, I made an effort to stop myself
from thinking negatively. I may not have been able to
control my circumstances, but I could control my attitude
towards them. It wasnt easy, and its an ongoing process,
but the key lay in believing in myself.
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I left the hospital four months later and learnt to face a
life that felt like a roller-coaster of obstacles. Obstacles
that had to be overcome. Bathing, for instance - how
simple is that? It became a major concern for me. I
needed assistance to climb into the bath as well as to
wash myself. I couldnt move my body like I used to, and
had the additional frustration of trying to move my hands
and arms to do a simple thing like bathing. However, Id
made the choice to be strong and positive, and tried to
overcome these small yet huge obstacles with all my
strength, and most of all my dignity.

I was still on cortisone for my eye and hadnt fully
regained the use of my arms when I decided to join a
gym to get my body into shape. After three months of
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pushing myself to the limits, I became fitter, more
confident, and stronger, allowing me to gain the use of
my arms again. Having the use of my arms also gave me
the ability and confidence to do more things. Training was
hard work, and took hours of painful dedication but it
strengthened my resolve to continue with the rest of my
life.

Now I needed a challenge to go to the next level one
within me this time. I needed to examine the reason why
I couldnt do things. Why I couldnt get a girlfriend, for
example.
I found that the solution was simple: there was actually
no reason why I couldnt. No real reason, anyway. My I
CAN attitude simply had to be translated into I CAN
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action. From that point onwards, every time I had an
obstacle in my way, I practised telling myself, I CAN, I
CAN, and I discovered a simple, yet remarkable fact.

If you can, you will.

Eight months after my original release from hospital I was
back. The spasms which pulled my knees against my
chest were painful and embarrassing, and they were
restricting my ability to do more, so I approached my
doctor and he advised me of an operation that would
allow my legs to flop more freely.
Lets do it, I said, and the date was booked.
Clouded by the excitement of having an operation that
could give me the extra mobility that I needed, I was
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completely unaware that there was something even more
exciting and life-changing up ahead than I could ever
have imagined.
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Chapter 4

After the operation, I woke up and found my legs in
plaster of Paris from my hips through to my ankles. I
really didnt know at that point if the operation had been
successful - I was too busy looking around the hospital
room in the realization that I was surrounded by nurses.
Young nurses, caring and assisting with everyones needs!
And all of a sudden, my eyes caught an angel. She had
this look of a model - and she was headed my way. My
breathing paused for about ten seconds, making me feel
a little light-headed!
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Hello, she said. Gulp!
Hello, I said with a squeaky, unfamiliar voice. Im
Wendy. I see on your file that youre Cy?
Yes, I said. And after all that uncomfortable,
nervous feeling, I suddenly felt comfortable and at ease. I
felt like I could have told her everything. WOW! She was
a beautiful person.

A few days went by and then Nurse Wendy made her
way over to my bed in the hospital ward and said,
Im new in Durban. Do you know of anywhere I
can go tonight? This was it! An opportunity to go out
with her.
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Yes, I replied immediately. I happen to be from
Durban you know, and I have a pass to go out tonight if
youre interested. Since I wasnt sick, and only in hospital
for the operation and the physiotherapy that followed, I
was issued a hospital pass which allowed me to go out.
The curfew was midnight and the condition was no
alcohol.
Thats great. What time? she said.
Ill meet you outside the ward at eight, I replied
casually, sure she could hear my heart pounding against
my ribcage.

We went to a movie kind of awkward with my legs
plastered from thigh to toe straight out in front of me, but
hey, Id got my gal! That was the beginning of our lives
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together. The next day Nurse Wendy had difficulty
keeping a straight face as I went to great lengths to make
her aware of me. I rang the bell for attention
continuously, demanding hair washes and foot massages
anything to have her near. I had a stereo system with a
plug-in microphone next to my bed that my folks had
brought in for me. I used to call Wendy across the ward:
Nurse Lurie, please report to Cys bed! and she
did out of pure embarrassment!
I was unhappy with the ward that the hospital planned to
move me to for further rehabilitation and so, despite
warnings that these romances never last, Wendy and I
soon found a flat together. I was still on a lot of
medication to help with the spasm for my legs so Wendy
gave up her long working hours and devoted her time to
47
nursing me. My dad paid the rent for our bachelor flat on
the Marine Parade, but our living expenses were our own.
Since we never had the pleasure of rubbing as much as
two 10c pieces together, our staple diet consisted of
peanut butter and toast and much of our time was spent
at the beach. Sun and fresh air are still free!

It was some of the best days of our lives - no
responsibility, no obligations, and free to spend the days
as we wished. In retrospect, it was the best rehabilitation
that I could have ever hoped for. If I didnt follow, I
missed out, and being one that hates to miss anything, I
pushed myself to do things that I ordinarily wouldnt have.
We went dancing at local night clubs, went to parties, and
48
had friends over - all the things people our age were
generally doing, I think.

One particular day sticks out in my mind. It was a typical
sunny, hot and humid day. We decided to go down to the
beachfront as usual. Right down to Addington beach
where it was quiet. I had to take my bucket and spade
(Cmon guys, you have to take it!). I removed the flowers
on the side of the bucket, because at the age of twenty,
flowers on the bucket werent cool.

We met up with Shaun, who had the brilliant idea of
creating a hollow in the sand for me to sit and have the
waves wash over my toes. How refreshing! I had the sun,
49
sea and sand, what more could I ask for? This was the
shniznie!

Being Durbanites, Shaun and Wendy were soon diving
into the waves and seeing who could swim the fastest to
the buoys. Five minutes later, I felt a slight trickle of
water come in by my feet. Swoosh Ok, a little panic, but
not to worry, its only a little water. I mean, think about it
guys. Sand, sun, sea, Wendy in her bikini, and now a little
water to cool me off. This was the shn-iz-nie!

Soon enough, another wave pushes up the stretch of
beach. SHWOOOSH! My shorts lift up in the front,
allowing the sand to filter into my underwear and
submerging my legs. Now Im sitting waist high in my
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pool. Ok! Now Im panicking a little. So I put my hands
in the air and shout,
Errmmm, guys, theres water coming in my hole
here! To my dismay, they simply wave back. Well, I think,
dont panic, its just a little sea water itll drain out.
Understanding a little of how the tides work, I quickly
looked to my left and right and noticed that I was pretty
safe, since the tide that came in the previous day was
level to were I was lying.

Five minutes later. SHWOOOOSH!!! This time the wave
was substantially larger. My eyes grew wide as I saw that
it was going to wash over me. I felt my lips vibrate with
the force of the water and my eyelids were pushed back.

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It even cleared my sinuses! OK! Now I was panicking. So
I raise my hands up again and shout,

HELLO! Im drowning here They wave back
again Unfortunately, that wasnt the scary part. As the
waves leave the pool, they leave something behind them.
Blue-bottles. Yes, blue-bottles, and these guys were
stinging me everywhere. Wendy and Shaun, oblivious to
my dilemma, simply thought that I was having a
wonderful time moving around on the beach like Michael
J ackson in his Thriller video.
Later that night, while I soaked my swollen body in milk
for the stings (which doesnt work by the way, but my
skin glowed!) I reflected on my experience earlier that
day. I had a choice. In fact, I had many. I could have
52
vegetated in front of the TV because I was different, but I
didnt. I went to the beach instead, because I believed
that I was entitled to be different. I decided that I was
differently-abled. I also decided that I was, in fact,
special. To this very day, I still believe that I am. Each of
us is.

Keep telling yourself that you CAN - and you will.







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Chapter 5

My being disabled limits a number of things. Id been
told on numerous occasions and by various medical
professionals that I couldnt have children, which was
quite upsetting. Wendy and I wanted kids, and so with
the mindset of we can and we will, we managed to break
the rules yet again. In April 1995 Wendy gave birth to a
handsome boy named J oshua.

I believe that the levels of maturity in children these days
have increased, in fact so much so that my son J oshua is
56
eleven but I prefer to say eleventeen. The environment
surrounding children today seems to have imposed this
level of maturity on younger children, often with
unfortunate consequences. Ive personally found that
listening to my parents and being open with them allowed
me to travel down the road of teenage-hood with support
and confidence but Ive learnt that there are others who
are not that fortunate.

My son, J osh, is a professional shopper. He loves to go
shopping with Wendy. I, on the other hand, dont really
have a clue. One day we decided to go shopping (J osh
and I) for the stuff that gets rid of the KwaZulu Natal
Provincial Bird. Yes, you guessed it. The mosquito. Now
the mosquitoes in Durban are hectic! If you slap a regular
57
mosquito, they go SPLAT. If you slap a Durban mosquito,
they start doing press-ups under your hand!

So off we go to the local supermarket to get the mosquito
repellent. Once were in the shop, J osh goes over to
collect a trolley while I look at the magazine rack. As soon
as J osh gets a trolley, he gets this look in his eyes and
starts with that evil little laugh,
Hehehehehehe. He takes aimand starts racing
at 400 km/h towards me. Im unaware of this. All I hear is
the noise of a racing trolley getting louder and louder.
And BANG! Followed by hysterical laughter,
HA HA HA HA. My wheelchair receives the full
impact, lifting up about ten centimetres. Being the
58
supportive and loving Father that I am, I say in a low
voice,
Thats nice boy, sleep with one eye open
tonight... I can still imagine him snoring away with his
one beady eye cautiously scanning the room.

Apparently there is a certain routine that is followed by
more regular shoppers. They start at aisle one and move
progressively up and down the aisles until they reach the
tills. I didnt know this, so I was happy to go down aisle
one, then four, then skip to seven. J osh, on the other
hand, has a routine that his Mom taught him. So I
suddenly hear this loud, excited voice from the other side
of the shop.
DAD! shouts J osh. DAD!
59
Yes, J osh? I reply.
Dad, they have a special on cabbages. Huh?
So? I reply.
Well, mom said that if theres a special, you must
always buy two.
Two? I say, trying not to sound confused. But we
dont even like cabbage!
Yes, two. Mom says we can freeze the other one.
No, leave it, J osh. Lets just get what we came
for, I holler back, all the while thinking to myself, isnt it
amazing how children imitate us?

As were making our way through the supermarket, lifting
and inspecting things weve never seen in our own
grocery cupboards, I see an opportunity to get J osh back
60
for ramming me with the trolley earlier. On my right-hand
side is a lovely looking pyramid of toilet paper. Mmm, I
think to myself. This is it!

Were slowly ambling past the pyramid of toilet paper
when I decide to stick my elbow out just a little and
casually nudge J osh into it. He throws his arms up in the
air as he tumbles into the tower, accompanied by a
dramatic bellow.
AAAH, HEEE, AAAHH. Of course the first thing I
do is scoot in the other direction as fast as I can. DAD,
DAD. Whyd you push me? he splutters, with anger
making his voice sound quivery.
Excuse me, I reply. I dont think I know you,
young man. He wasnt very happy with me for a while.
61
After five minutes of being upset, I was forgiven though -
either because I bought him an ice-cream, or because he
loves me. I prefer the latter explanation.

I could finally see it: aisle number fourteen. Thats where
we find the mosquito repellent. As were making our way
down the aisle, we notice that its on the top shelf.
Staring up at our intended target, J osh asks the obvious.
Howre we going to get up there, Dad?
Mmmm, I say. I got an idea.
Whats it? J osh replies.
I want you to climb onto my hands, and Im going
to lift you up. His face brightens.
62
Ok, Dad, lets do it! I knit my fingers together and
J osh puts his left foot into them. Then I carefully lift him
onto my lap.
Watch where youre standing! I moan in a
squeaky voice. J osh reaches up and grabs the mosquito
repellent. In fact, he even grabs four more just to make
sure were sorted for the next few months.

Objective: achieved!






63

64

65



Chapter 6

As much as we loved our carefree days we recognised
that they couldnt last forever, and in time I felt confident
enough to venture into the serious business of getting a
job. I worked in a plastics firm for a while but it was on
night shift and when J osh began not to recognise his own
father I knew it was time to move on!

My desire for a challenge to grow was never far from my
mind and when J osh was about three years old I decided
to try my hand at a position in a large corporation. I
66
found that the work required my full attention, and the
company was also going through some major changes
which put me under a lot of pressure. No matter how I
looked at it, the ill effects were rubbing off on my family
and that didnt work for me.

I decided to focus on setting myself a higher target. I
figured that by doing this, everything else underneath
would simply become easier. My decision made, all I now
needed was to unearth the challenge - and I kept my
eyes anxiously peeled for the opportunity.

It was Wendy who eventually found it. Reading the
newspaper a few days later, she came across a challenge
that I thought could be the answer. There was a group of
67
mountaineers looking for someone to climb a mountain
with them.
Hey, why not, I said. The mountain was my goal
not only because it was literally a mountain, but I felt that
the word mountain posed similarities to the mountains of
life itself.

I had numerous obstacles in my way before I even set
tyre and tread on that mountain. Everyone around me
was telling me,
You CANT do that! There is just no way that you
can climb that mountain. The corporate company I was
working for told me that they wouldnt sponsor me
because what I was aiming for was impossible.

68
The only way I could overcome all the negativity
was to keep my focus on the mountain, and to believe in
myself. I kept telling myself,
I can climb that mountain, and I will climb that
mountain.

If you tell yourself you CAN then you WILL. If you tell
yourself you cant, then you wont.

I had made a choice, and that is exactly what I was going
to do. I was so ready that I was moving the wheelchair
back and forth by the gate, waiting for it to be opened so
I could zoom to the top. I hadnt realized how high it was.
I never saw it that first day. The Sentinel Peak in the
Drakensberg was surrounded by dark and pendulous
69
clouds, obscuring the landscape in front of me, cloaked in
heavy mist. I wasnt afraid though - this would be easy!

I started my ascent in my wheelchair, but soon realized
that it would be impossible to manoeuvre over the
slippery rocks and pathways waterlogged from the rains.
Then BANG! Ten metres past the gate, I hit rock. A rock
that me and my trusty wheelchair had no way of
overcoming. This was a big disappointment. Id reached
my first obstacle. I got off my wheelchair and put a
leather sack over my legs. It was a thick sack made from
strong leather and had a zip on the side. It fitted me like
a glove, and was pretty heavy. The function of the sack
was to protect my legs from injuries while dragging
myself up the mountain.
70
I proceeded to drag myself backwards. I never realized
that my mind would have to be so strong! I wanted to
stop, to give up! I was tired, my hands were swollen, and
the skin on the back of my heels and coccyx was scraped
and blistering. My arms ached and my whole body
trembled with exhaustion.

At 5pm that afternoon we decided to pitch a tent and
spend the night on the side of the mountain. I couldnt
have been more grateful for the rest. My team was
amazing, making sure I was dry and fed, and keeping my
spirits high. I was lying by the fire thinking about the
days events. Thinking about how difficult it had been to
climb this monster. I thought about the unforeseen
obstacles that Id faced. Then Wendy radioed me from
71
her lodge. Her soothing voice sounded over the two-way
radio.
Cy, are you there? she asked.
Yes babe, Im here, I said with a hint of
excitement in my voice.
How are you doing?
Fine, thanks, just very sore and tired... I felt a
sense of comfort from hearing her voice. It made me feel
relaxed.
Cy, said Wendy. You must know that were very
proud of you. Your family is proud of you, your friends,
everyone. And if you feel that you want to come home,
thats fine. Well still be very proud of you.
Hearing those words was the mental fuel I needed to
replenish my sapped state of mind. Having the support
72
and love from the ones you care about makes a big
difference in your heart, and how much you believe in
your abilities.
Thank-you, Wends. Its nice to hear that from you,
but I need to continue climbing. I made a commitment
and I intend to stick to it. Please send my love to
everyone and to J osh-man.
Ok, babe. I love you, Wendy said with pride.
I love you, too. Sad, but excited and motivated, I
put down the two-way radio and went to sleep.
The next morning was glorious. The sun shone
brightly in the sky and the mountain summit stood
majestically before me. There she was. This monstrous
mountain, trying to intimidate me with her mere size. I
73
didnt see her malice, instead I saw her splendour. She
was beautiful, she was the Sentinel.
Today, its me and you, I said with total certainty.
Only then, for the first time, did I comprehend what I was
actually doing - and why! I didnt need to prove anything
to anyone else. I needed to prove myself to myself.

Believe, In Yourself!

74



Chapter 7

We finally reached the face of the Sentinel. It was about
102 metres in height. The team sorted out the ropes and
made triple sure that I was secure, preparing me for the
long haul up the rock face. This was the most difficult
challenge I would face, both mentally and physically. My
heart pounded with anticipation.
This is it, I said to myself.

Not having top-of-the-range equipment, the only way I
could pull myself up the rope was by making a knot on
75
another piece of thick string and making it big enough for
me to be able to hold on to and haul myself upwards. It
wasnt easy. The moment I started pulling myself up, I
felt the profound weight of the leather sack. It was
waterlogged, and I felt as if I was pulling another body up
with me. I pulled myself up inch by unbearable inch,
wanting to faint, but persisting, frequently tapping my
gloves on the wet rocks and sucking the water from them.

It took me roughly five hours to pull myself up the rock
face. I had plenty time to think while I dangled and
dumped against that rock. I thought about my day at the
beach. My painful stings - and chuckled to myself. I
thought about being alive, and how fortunate I was. I
thought about my only tear when I heard that Id lost the
76
use of my legs. I had my arms, didnt I? And strong ones,
too! I looked up and saw the ledge at the Peak. It was
only 2 metres away. No rush.

The closer I got the top, the more determined I became.

I CANI CAN

My fingertips felt the flat surface at the top.
Its not far now Cy... I said to myself. You CAN
do this. Its right there. I heaved myself up and onto the
ledge. Then I sat there for a minute or so, just absorbing
the achievement.

77
The view was incredible. I sat in awe and saw the parking
lot 4500 metres below. I took time to reflect on just how
lucky and fortunate I was. I heard the wind whisper its
congratulations to me. Id achieved something with my
disability Again I hadnt let it beat me. A challenge of
physical strength had been put to the test, but Id learnt
that my strength did not lie in my arms. It lay in my mind
and in my positive thoughts.

78

79

80

81


Chapter 8

Looking down from the Sentinel Peak takes your breath
away. Having made the climb by dragging myself for two
days was confirmation that I believed in myself. Looking
pensively into the distance I thought about the people I
loved and knew, and realized the importance of simply
loving them for who they are. Life is so precious. Start by
loving yourself and creating the attitude within. Ive
realized that there are, and will continue to be, many
obstacles in life, but Ive also realized that the only true
mountain that you will ever need to climb will be yourself.

82
I also know that if Id climbed that mountain on my own,
then the mountain wasnt high enough. Having support
and giving support to your friends and families is very
important. Working together, as a team, will help you
conquer ANY mountain.

Remember though, it has to start with you. Everything
starts from a simple thought. For example: Do you
remember when you first had to tie your shoe-laces and
how you hated the world? Moaning and groaning because
it was so difficult to get it right! That started from a
thought. Then you put the thought into action: you did
something about it. By now, its become a habit - and
habits dont require much effort. It all becomes easier.
Now when you tie your shoes, its a piece of cake.
83
Also remember that its extremely important for you to
dream, and to think about where you want to be. The
way to get there is then to action your dream. Believe
that you are special enough to have a dream, and love
yourself enough to afford yourself the opportunities.

Determine your character - and your character will
determine your destiny.

Believing in yourself, believing in your dreams, and
thinking positively will set a strong foundation that will
enable you to climb any mountain.

You CAN climb that mountain!
You WILL!
84
85
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