The family of Tashriq Parker, the Springbok Deaf Sevens rugby star, is overjoyed as they confirm that the 24-year-old athlete will finally be returning home. Parker was discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Johannesburg hospital on Wednesday morning.
Parker, who hails from Bonteheuwel, has been hospitalized since Thursday, August 8th, after suffering a severe head injury during a tackle that left his skull fractured.
He is expected to arrive at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) on Wednesday afternoon, where his wife Alicia, their 3-month-old daughter Iqrah, and his parents will eagerly await his return.
THE RELIEF OF BEING REUNITED
Alicia expressed her relief and happiness, sharing that her husband called her first thing on Wednesday to share the good news. “I am very relieved that he will be home with his family. It was extremely difficult for us because we couldn’t do anything to help him,” she said.
Parker has not seen his loved ones in weeks, as he was participating in the South African Deaf Rugby Association’s (SADRA) inaugural international deaf rugby series.
Furthermore, the Parker family has extended their gratitude to SADRA’s vice-president, Lauren Terras, for facilitating Tashriq’s return home. His family worked tirelessly to secure hospital authorization, allowing Parker to be transferred to a Cape Town hospital where he will continue his recovery.
On Thursday, Parker is scheduled to undergo a cranioplasty, a surgical procedure to repair or reshape his fractured skull.
In the meantime, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help the Parker family cover medical expenses and other financial needs, as Tashriq is the family’s sole breadwinner.
