Clots, collapsed lungs: Derick Hougaard’s hellish hospital stay

Afrikaans singer Nadine has shared the startling details about her partner Derick Hougaard’s hospital stay and his miraculous path to recovery.

Speaking to Jacaranda FM, the pop star shed light on the retired rugby player’s progress.

On Saturday, 10 June, Hougaard was found unresponsive in his Pretoria East home. He was rushed to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, where he lay in a coma in the ICU for almost two weeks.

He has since awakened from a coma and resumed breathing without a ventilator.

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NADINE DETAILS DERICK HOUGAARD HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

Speaking to Martin Bester, Nadine recounted the “hellish” two weeks of Hougaard’s hospital experience. To date, the 40-year-old has spent 18 days in the state hospital.

The singer claimed that her partner narrowly missed being placed in a medically-induced coma, which occurs when a patient has been on a ventilator for more than two weeks.

ALSO READ: A fighter! Derick Hougaard OFF the ventilator, breathing on his own

Here’s how the hospital experience went…

• First few days, Nadine was not sure he would make it
• On day nine, his medical condition turned a corner
• Day 12 -13, he began gradually waking up from a coma
• On day 15, he was fully awake and began to talk, and attempted to walk.
• On day 16, he came off the ventilator, which had been helping him to breathe.

Although Derick is in pain, Nadine added: “Every step he takes gets better.”

ALSO READ: Poisoned? Derick Hougaard to reveal who gave him ‘toxic’ meds

According to Nadine, he was diagnosed with aspirational pneumonia; an infection doctors claim occurs when saliva, food, liquid, or vomit is inhaled or infiltrated into the lungs.

As a result, Derick suffered a collapsed left lung and a partial collapse of his right lung. Nadine added that Derick also experienced blood clots in his left arm and a lack of circulation in his left arm.

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Derick was then medically treated with two sets of antibiotics. He underwent two bronchoscopies and was prone – to treatment to help relieve respiratory distress.

FULL RECOVERY FOR FORMER SPRINGBOKS STAR?

According to the NHS, patients who wake up from a coma gradually gain consciousness. Like Derick, they may appear confused in the beginning and want to walk and talk.

ALSO READ: Why is Derick Hougaard in a govt hospital? Nadine explains…

Some patients may fully recover, while others may be affected by a prolonged period of unconsciousness, which can affect brain functions. They may need physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychological assessment during their rehabilitation. Some may even require care for the rest of their lives.

ALSO READ: Derick Hougaard and Nadine: Lovers or friends? [photos]