Hello
Dirk Bester gave us your address and asked us to write something about our nephew. My wife will do the writing, all I want to add is that both his father and uncle are members of MISASA. We will attach pictures of him, his farther and his uncle.
Thanks, Annes Visagie
About 570kilometer north of Cape Town, in Springbok, lives a little boy of 5 years old who has a passion for aeroplanes and motor cycles. Christiaan Roets loves going with his father, Dries, in the microlight. Sometimes they have to sneak away from home to go flying because the little one is not supposed to do this because of his physical condition.
Ironical he had been diagnosed with Osteo Genesis Imperfecto, a condition where the bones lack collagen and thus his bones are very brittle. From his 10th day the doctors struggle to improve his quality of life. Since then he suffered more than 30 fractures in his legs and arms. At this moment he can walk due to telescopic devices in his legs and thighs to stabilise the bone and strengthen it. He has to visit the medical specialist in Cape Town at a regular base for treatment to strengthen his bones and stimulate the growth of collagen.
Despite all of this nothing can damp his enthusiasm for life and his very sharp brain. With his father flying and his uncle (and godfather) an ex Airforce pilot, Carel Oberholzer, they keep his interest in aero dynamics more than alive and needless to say he knows a lot about aeroplanes, their speed and engine capacities and what not!
Come birthdays and Christmas one cannot make a mistake by buying, building or supplying an aeroship of one or other kind. Sadly enough nowhere can you find a model of a microlight, but we are working on that one.
Despite all the constant pain and hardship he has to endure, he never complains and sets an example for all of us. His dedicated support group include both grandmothers, two aunts and their families (living in Springbok) and the whole community who whole heartedly support every fund raising event for all the astronomic medical costs incurred.