Bulls have a tough start to the season. Losing coaches, key players injured and now management is hit by serious health issues to senior role players and their families.
Bulls High Performance Manager Ian Schwartz is on his way to recovery, and while medical officials may differ, he believes he will recover more quickly than is forecast.
The hard-working Schwartz, who is widely recognized as the key behind much of the Bulls’ recruiting success over the past 10 years in luring top talent to Loftus Versfeld, was diagnosed with Guillain Barré Syndrome last week.
It was the second shock in a tough week for the Super 14 champions, who consider themselves a family, as they also deal with news that Marinda van Graan, the wife of their CEO Barend van Graan, was badly injured in a horse-riding accident.
Schwartz first had pain in his lower back while at work, but immediately sought medical help a few hours later with pins and needles in his feet, legs and hands. He was rushed to Kloof hospital in Pretoria and an hour later didn’t have feeling from the waist down, but has improved significantly since then.
“It is going a lot better,” an upbeat Schwartz told SuperSport.com, “It is difficult, but yesterday I walked on my own, a week after this all happened. My feet still feel like they are cushions, but the outlook is positive. One of the main reasons for recovery is an positive attitude. I am blessed with a positive attitude.”
While Schwartz admits it may take him a while to resume his normal duties at the Bulls, the workhorse that he is, he isn’t one to take this lying down and pays tribute to the medical care he received at the hospital, and in particular his neurosurgeon Dr Pillay, who immediately made the correct diagnoses and allowed the treatment to begin.
“Dr Pillay was wonderful and it was the good work that made it possible. It’s only a week after it all happened, and I can walk a bit again. It will take some time to get back to my work, and I’ll probably be at home for a while, but things don’t stand still. Soon I will put on my computer again to start working.”
Schwartz now has a long process of physiotherapy and treatment to overcome the disease, but is positive he will make a full recovery.
He has since been overwhelmed with messages of support from friends, family and the rugby fraternity from across the globe.
“Its been amazing the amount of support and messages I have received, from people from all over the world – I’m not sure how they even found out, but there have been lots of them. I’ve had visitors from friends to the wider Bulls rugby family, SA Rugby and other provinces – they have all been here.
“But the most important people who have supported me are my wife Elma and my sons Desmond and Lean, who have been unbelievable in helping me overcome this. Also my sister in law, Mariaan Scorrano who came from Bloemfontein and who has been at my bedside 24/7.”
Schwartz worked closely with Heyneke Meyer as the two built up a rugby empire unparalleled in South Africa, luring young talent and implementing professional structures at the union that have been the envy of other provinces.
Schwartz was also the team manager for numerous teams, including the SA under-21 side and also handles the communication for the Bulls and Blue Bulls senior teams. A top talent scout as well, the former police officer is the key negotiator for all the playing and coaching contracts at the union.
While Schwartz is in Kloof hospital, a number of players and officials have also been shocked by the news about Chief Executive Barend van Graan’s wife Marinda, who fractured three neck ligaments in a horror horse-riding accident.
“She is fine, and will make a full recovery,” Van Graan told SuperSport.com, “She may have to wear a brace for a few weeks, but we are thankful that she is going to be fine.”
According to Van Graan, the horse was walking back to the stables when it was spooked at the gate, flinging his wife off. She also cracked her eye socket.
Marinda is in the Intensive care unit at the same hospital.