Nathan Hendricks will be competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. We catch up with the young swimmer to find out what this great achievement means to him.

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Nathan Hendricks (18) lives in Middelburg, Mpumalanga with his parents, Darryl and Jennifer. He has five siblings.

Despite not having the easiest start to life – being diagnosed with diabetes as a baby and then diagnosed with Stargardt disease – macular dystrophy at the age of 12 – Nathan depicts joy. He answers every question with the most mature mindset and is very humble. A playful relationship with his father is evident while admiring respect is given to his mother.

“I never had self-pity, I grew up with diabetes and made the decision that I wouldn’t allow it to limit me. Then when I lost my eye sight, I never saw it as a bad thing, it actually helped me get closer to my family as my mother had to read for me and my dad had to help me with a lot of other things. I also believe God gave it to me for a reason so I’m going to find that reason,” Nathan says.

Type 1 diagnosis

At just eight months old, Nathan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This came after he was urinating a lot; a GP treated him with antibiotics for a bladder infection. Though, it didn’t help so his mother, Jennifer, took him to a hospital where a paediatrician diagnosed him with diabetes. He was treated with insulin and his parents took him to Johannesburg for a consultation with a paediatric endocrinologist.

“For the first six months, we injected him mainly in the buttocks but then the endocrinologist suggested that he start insulin pump therapy. Nathan was actually one of the first babies to be on an insulin pump. Up until the age of 16 or 17, he was using the insulin pump,” Jennifer explains.

Nathan stopped using the pump due to swimming. “Because I was in the water for a long periods of time (two and a half hours) without the pump, I wasn’t getting a good flow of insulin. So, I started injecting long-acting insulin to sustain me while swimming but now I inject both long- and short-acting insulin as I find it’s the best way for me to have good management,” Nathan says.

Stargardt disease – macular dystrophy

Then at the age of 12, Nathan was diagnosed Stargardt disease – macular dystrophy, a genetic eye disorder that causes progressive vision loss, mainly affecting central vision loss.

“We discovered that I was struggling to see when we sat at the dinner table. Instead of looking straight at a person, I would either look just above their head or to the side, so I could picture their face better. I went to an optometrist and was given the strongest lenses but still couldn’t see. We then consulted an ophthalmologist and he then diagnosed me with Stargardt disease – macular dystrophy,” Nathan says.

“Stargardt has nothing to do with my diabetes, it’s genetic. However, uncontrolled glucose levels can cause further damage but I’m proud to say that my ophthalmologist says there is no sign of diabetic damage.”

Unfortunately, there is no cure or current treatment for Stargardt disease. However, various gene and drug research trials are underway. To slow the vision loss down, Nathan reduces his vitamin A intake.

“There is a possibility that as I get older, I may become completely blind but it’s not a definite,” Nathan says.

Education

Nathan attended primary school and his parents would explain his diabetes to every new teacher he got, educating them on highs and lows and what to do in those instances. “At first the teachers were scared of the responsibility but as the years went by, it became a non-issue,” Darryl says.

Nathan then started high school but in Grade 9, his parents made the decision that home-schooling would be better for him due to him struggling to see the white board. It has been a good move as Nathan is doing extremely well academically and hopes to further his studies in particle physics.

A love for swimming

When asked when his skill for swimming was discovered, Nathan humbly says that he doesn’t see himself as being talented but rather that he has a love for swimming.

“When I joined my swimming club, I would lose to girls who were three years younger than me. But I kept on training, putting in the work in for my stroke correction and eventually I became good at it and was invited to Senior Nationals and competitions overseas,” Nathan says.

Darryl adds that when Nathan was in primary school he encouraged his son to keep on practising and eventually he would win races. “And that happened, even though his first swimming teacher said he would never be a swimmer. Nathan is disciplined; he doesn’t miss any training and as the years went by, the more races he won. In 2020, Nathan qualified to swim in a Level 2 competition, but it was cancelled due to COVID.”

Darryl continues, “When Nathan joined the swimming club, I told his coach that our goal is for him to compete in the Paralympics as he qualifies as a S13 swimmer due to having Stargardt disease. The coach looked at me incredulously but a few months later, Nathan was invited to swim in a Level 3 competition and he made the final of the 100m backstroke and from then, he just kept on going, and now he is one of the top swimmers in the club.”

Nathan is an all-rounder and is good at all four strokes but his top two strokes are 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke. “Surprisingly, I have an African record for breaststroke, which is my least favourite.”

Breathing techniques to regulate emotions

If Nathan has low blood glucose levels while training, he can feel it as he gets very tired; he then immediately gets out of the pool. Though, he says if his levels are high, he can continue to swim for a while.

He admits that emotions during galas play a huge factor in his management and extreme highs and lows. “We noticed my glucose levels were very high before a race. No matter if we increased the insulin dosage, it stayed high. Then after a race, I would go into an extreme low and had to pull out of races that were straight after. After consulting with my endocrinologist, he confirmed that adrenalin was the cause of these rollercoaster glucose levels,” Nathan explains.

Nathan consulted a sports psychologist who taught him breathing techniques to do before a race which helps him stay more calm. He also follows a daily six-meal plan to help curb these highs and lows during races and has to take a certain amount of carbs just before races and thereafter.

Keeping colds and flu at bay

With preparations for the upcoming Paralympics underway, Nathan’s schedule is jammed-pack with 10 training sessions a week, which includes two gym sessions and a total of four hours in the pool a day and 60km+ of swimming a week, as well as home-schooling.

To keep the colds and flu at bay in winter, Nathan’s coach keeps him in his own swimming lane during training. Jennifer adds that their family become hermits in winter and stay indoors to keep all the germs away.

Nathan adds that he does test more during winter to just keep an eye on his glucose levels; this is to ensure his body isn’t put through unnecessary strain.

Road to Paralympics

Nathan says he is very excited to take part in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games as it has always been one of his goals. “I’m so honoured to represent my country and it’s a beautiful flag to hold up. There are many people that are looking up to me now, especially in my province, so I’m going to do well not only for myself but for everyone who is supporting me.”

We wish Nathan all best and look forward to seeing him make more of his goals come true.

“I also believe God gave it to me for a reason so I’m going to find that reason.”

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After a series of major health complications, Marilyn Nicolaisen chooses to focus on the positive with her life motto of: if you still breathe, there is hope.

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Marilyn Nicolaisen (48) lives in Pretoria, Gauteng with her husband and two children, aged 14 and nine.

Diabetes diagnosis

Twenty-four years ago, in 2000, Marilyn was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after having the symptom of drinking an extreme amount of water but still staying thirsty. After being admitted to hospital, the diagnosis was made.

She was immediately put on insulin and was given guidance on how to change her diet. Currently, she uses insulin glargine and insulin glulisine.

Multiple sclerosis diagnosis

In 2017, Marilyn was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease of the central nervous system which is thought to be an autoimmune disorder.

This came about after her pen constantly fell out of her hand as well as her coffee mug, like she had no control over her hands. Her right leg also became weak.

After consulting a neurologist, a lumbar puncture and MRI of the brain and spine were ordered. “A few lesions were seen on the MRI and I can’t remember the results of lumbar puncture but I was diagnosed with MS.

After her diagnosis, several medications were used as management (as there is no cure). Currently, she undergoes an IV infusion of ocrelizumab every sixth months. The cost per infusion is expensive but thankfully her medical aid covers it in full.

Marilyn says this diagnosis was much harder to accept than the diabetes diagnosis as there is no cure. “It was a huge shock for me and my family; I was extremely disappointed and very emotional,” she says.

Recent health scares

In April 2021, Marilyn’s whole life changed. “First I had a heart attack then two weeks later a stroke. My right side was mostly affected but with three months of rehab and a lot of exercise I have improved. While in rehab I had a MS relapse and then got COVID. My husband was out of country and no one was allowed to visit me. Thankfully, my mom took care of our children. It was the most difficult three months of my life. I tried to be positive for my husband and children but cried silently every night. We were obligated to get rails in the house, shower, etc. and a caretaker to help me. My new mode of transport, a wheelchair, was delivered to my house and a whole new life was awaiting the whole family,” Marliyn says.

She goes on to say that the heart attack and stroke were due to uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure. Since having the stroke and heart attack, she has tried to change her diet but says it isn’t easy; she eats mostly from the green list and low-carb foods.

Adapting to life in a wheelchair

Marliyn admits that accepting she needs a wheelchair has been beyond difficult. “I don’t think anyone will easily accept the fact that they are in a wheelchair. It’s three years now and every day is a challenge. However, my eight-year-old son makes it fun and drifts me,” she explains.

Grateful to be alive

Despite a life filled with health challenges, Marilyn is grateful to still be alive. “Every day is a challenge but I say thank you to the Lord for another day with my hubby and kids. When I think of them, I know the reason why I’m still here. I insist on making the lunchboxes myself in the morning; this makes me feel useful and needed. I sell online goods to keep me busy and motivated during the day as I was a busy bee before the wheelchair. Every evening I help prepare dinner with my caretaker and ensure I do my fair share. To help me mentally and emotionally, I consult a psychiatrist (via Zoom) and have to take medication,” Marilyn says.

Seeing the bright side

Marilyn’s children are the sole source of her motivation and positivity. “My 14-year-old daughter takes over the personal tasks from my caretaker in the evenings and over the weekends; she is my diamond. My husband and son help with other tasks, like getting me into bed or whatever I need help with. Without them I would surely not manage. My motto now in life is: if you still breathe, there is hope.

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