Signed jersey uplifts former rugby player fighting cancer

The Elsies River Rugby Club gifted a signed jersey to a former player who is currently battling cancer in a sign of solidarity.
Ricardo Spannenberg played for Elsies for 12 years, but last year, after a rugby match, he discovered a lump and went to the doctor. At the time, the lump was not too big, and the doctor prescribed antibiotics. After a month, the lump was back, this time bigger, and another doctor sent him to a urologist, who sent him for tests. After receiving the results, one of his testicles was removed. After the operation, he was declared in remission.

Shoulder injury

In April this year, he started feeling ill again after a shoulder injury from rugby. On 28 April, he collapsed in the passage. According to his wife, Evita, he went for scans, and after five hours, she received a call from him. “He told me that the doctors told him that the cancer is back and that his liver is also failing. He was in the intensive care unit for eight days and was knocking on death’s door. The doctors said that there was not much they could do to help him,” says Evita.

Emergency chemotheraphy

Evita says that the next day, the doctor called her. “The doctor told me there is something they can try to do. They sent him for emergency chemotherapy. After eight days in the ICU, his heartbeat could function at 40 beats per minute. The doctors were extremely impressed with his health. Because he is a rugby player, he practices Tuesdays and Thursdays, plays on Saturdays, and plays touchies on Sundays. After the first diagnosis, he also started living a healthier life.
“After three days of chemotherapy, his body was reacting, and after a total of 13 days, he was home. He still goes for aggressive chemotherapy, but we believe that he will make a full recovery,” says Evita.

Gratitude

Ricardo said the gesture surprised him as a former club member, because he recently moved to another club. “For Elsies River to present me with my 2010 debut jersey is quite special. Not only is Elsies River a community club, it is a brotherhood. Most of my friends are still playing, and some of them are coaches. The club’s values were established in 1992 by the founders of the club. One of the founders of the club was my wife’s late father. I was under the impression they did not have the jerseys anymore, and for all of them to sign it was emotional,” says Spannenberg.

Signed jersey

Morne van Neel, chair of the club, said when they found out about Spannenberg’s situation, they rallied around him. “We consider him part of the family. One of the people who grew up in the club, Morne Mitchell, came up with the suggestion to shave our heads and present Spannie (Spannenberg) with the signed jersey. Spannie is not giving up; he is fighting, believing he can overcome cancer. The draws inspiration from his courage,” says Van Neel.
. A BackaBuddy campaign has been launched to help Spannenberg. Visit the campaign at https://backabuddy.co.za/campaign/ricardos-journey-in-overcoming-cancer-diagnosis.

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