An accident put her into a coma and killed her daughter – now Shanei doesn’t recall even having had a child
WHENEVER he visits her she seems in good spirits, chatting and laughing despite serious injuries that have left her unable to walk.
Renier Stols knows he should be relieved his ex-girlfriend is out of her coma but every time he catches a glimpse of the tattoo on her right shoulder blade his heart sinks.
Etched into Shanei Norris’ skin in bold ink is “Reanei”, the name of their daughter who was born 16 months ago.
But Shanei (22) has no recollection of the horrific car crash she and her child were involved in on 23 March – and no idea Renier (28) spent hours waiting alone beside the baby’s lifeless body.
By the time he arrived at the accident scene between Drie Riviere and Vereeniging in Gauteng that Friday morning, paramedics had already freed Shanei from the wreck and taken her to Sebokeng Hospital.
His baby daughter’s body was on the back seat, covered in a blanket. “Her body was still warm,” Renier says, tears welling up as he chats to us at the hospital.
Annelie Hunter Smith – who’s like a mom to Shanei, whose parents have both passed away – is also taking strain. Like everyone else she was relieved when, after two weeks in a coma, Shanei regained consciousness.
But happiness soon turned to disbelief when it became evident Shanei had no recollection of ever having a daughter.
Early in May memories of Reanei slowly started coming back into focus for Shanei – but she still wasn’t able to recall the nightmare crash and explained her daughter’s absence by insisting she was simply away at crèche.
“Doctors haven’t been able to test her for amnesia because she’s not strong enough yet – but we think she’s blocking memories,” Annelie says.
Bu hikaye YOU South Africa dergisinin 24 May 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye YOU South Africa dergisinin 24 May 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST
With more and more of us struggling with our mental health, here's a common-sense guide to coping with life's ups and downs
SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES
John van de Ruit tells us why he decided to write a sequel - and shares how his first book helped him find enduring love
SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG
A Cape Town couple have been charged with using a young woman as a sex slave-but some say she lost the job she signed up for and now has a grudge against them
LIAM LAID TO REST
More than a month after One Direction singer LIAM PAYNE (31) tragically fell to his death from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his loved ones finally got to say their goodbyes.
SHILOH HANGS OUT
THE two young women look like any pair of good friends chatting and laughing as they leave their dance class in Los Angeles.
LEO IN LOVE
He's just turned 50 and it seems Leonardo DiCaprio may finally be ready to settle down
PACKING A PUNCH
Irish actor Paul Mescal beefed up for his role in the blockbuster epic Gladiator II - and fans are loving it
I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD
As the illegitimate daughter of the king, she fought to be recognised as part of Belgium's royal family, but Princess Delphine says she still feels unwelcome
'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'
A bite from a spitting cobra 13 years ago nearly killed her but Mikayla survived - and she's made peace with her scars
THE CLAWS ARE OUT!
Things have grown frosty between the Beckhams and the Sussexes as Becks comes out in clear support of William