Having been rushed to hospital in the early hours of 15 July last year Solo has had a tough 10 months. He spent 6 months in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, with the first 3 of them spent in the Intensive Care Unit and the next 3 in the Neurology Ward, and since January has been continuing his recovery back home in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The diagnosis of Guillain-Barre Syndrome meant that it was always going to be a long recovery back to full strength but Solo has had a few extra hurdles along the way. He has also had to contend with a diagnosis of Tuberculosis, liver failure and kidney failure and has recently recovered from COVID-19.

Ahead of the latest setback Solo was in good spirits and his determined and positive self:
“ The whole thing has been frustrating and it doesn’t seem real at points but I am determined to recover fully and realise that it will hopefully only be for a couple of years of my life that I am dealing with the condition.”

Solo is currently at home, however is accompanied there by a medical bed, wheelchair and a care worker 24 hours a day. His recovery since returning back to Johannesburg had consisted of 3 sessions of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy per week alongside 2 sessions of Hydrotherapy per week until the current COVID-19 pandemic ended the Hydrotherapy sessions.

Solo was grateful for all of the support he has received from all over the world including that we at Aberdeenshire had given him in his recovery so far and said:
“ The support so far has been amazing and makes it feel as though it isn’t just me and my family that are going through this and that everyone is behind me to make a full recovery, which inspires me to do my therapies and work towards the progresses I have seen so far.”

Solo’s next goals are to develop his writing skills again to normal neatness and to be able to stand by himself again, and we all wish him all the best for his continued recovery.

You can keep up to date with Solo’s recovery by following him on his Instagram page
@iamsolonqweni