Dwayne Schrader does not so much believe that you only live once. Rather, his dictum is ‘live every day – you only die once’. Mossel Bay Advertiserreportsthat learning about his background and the near-future project of this determined Mossel Bay dad shows he seizes every opportunity.
When Schrader grew up in the Cape northern suburb of Durbanville, Melkbosstrand was the family’s go-to beach, and he could navigate a rubber duck long before mastering any of the diverse sporting disciplines he has practised since. Rugby featured on Schrader’s sporting agenda but, having spent years on the water with his legendary father, Sakkie Schrader, he was ready to tackle his first Trans Agulhas Challenge at the age of 18 in 1999. Over the next decade-plus, he completed 12 races with aplomb, most often securing podium finishes.
Rubber-duck racing is an all-consuming affair and by his mid-30s, Schrader’s focus shifted to career and family matters. “I took a break from competing in the world’s toughest inflatable boat race 13 years ago, but through Dad’s close bond with the TAC, we were always involved, be it at the start or finish or stops along the way.” Schrader and his wife welcomed a baby boy on August 19, 2024. The couple’s joy turned to concern when their newborn suffered a seizure three hours after birth.
Read Full Article on The Witness
[paywall]
Mossel Bay-based paediatric geneticist Dr Bertram Henderson was instrumental in diagnosing Baby Schrader. A close associate of Rare Diseases SA, Henderson identified Smith-Magenis syndrome, a little-known developmental disorder caused by a chromosome deletion. Their son was transferred to Panorama Clinic in the Cape, where the diagnosis was confirmed.
After processing the news, the Schraders sprang into action. “Because Smith-Magenis is so rare, kids are often only diagnosed in their teens. We were lucky to have Dr Henderson at hand and, apart from getting our boy the best treatment available, we are on a mission to create awareness around this condition to ensure early diagnosis and support systems for other parents,” explained Schrader.
It did not take long for Schrader’s old boat-racing bug to resurface. He contacted TAC organiser Stefan Lindeque.
[/paywall]
