Matric loses valiant battle

2009-01-06 22:51

Daniëlla du Plooy

Swartruggens - A matric pupil from North West lost his year-long battle with cancer one day after receiving his results.

Half an hour after Jaco Marais, 18, heard the news while lying in his hospital bed that he had passed, he went into a coma. He died the next day.

He got a distinction in Life Orientation and had passed with exemption.

Jaco, a pupil at Koster High School in North West, heard in January last year that he had a rare type of bone cancer.

Although he initially got chemotherapy, doctors prepared him and his parents for the worst: he would probably not complete his matric year, because this type of sarcoma is malignant and spreads rapidly.

"Despite this devastating news, Jaco lived the last months of his life to the full.

"He still played rugby and, despite the pain, wrote the preliminary and final exams," said his father, Koos, a farmer, on Tuesday.

Jaco died last Sunday, December 28.

Shoulder blade removed

In February, shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer, his right shoulder blade was removed.

He was also treated for tumours in his right lung.

In April and May he got chemotherapy in Pretoria and played his last rugby games - as a forward - without a right shoulder blade.

In June he was operated on again to remove tumours from his lungs. At that point the doctors recommended that they stop the chemotherapy.

In September, during his preliminary exam, Jaco received radiation treatment for the pain.

"He was determined to write every subject himself. He used his right hand, although he had been taught to write with his left when he was in hospital," said his mother, Ria.

In October Jaco attended the matric farewell with his girlfriend, Sumaria Rautenbach.

"He always wanted to arrive at the matric farewell in a combine harvester, and I took him in one," said Koos.

'His attitude made us persevere'

In November he wrote the matric exam. He wrote three of the papers himself and answered the others orally.

"His positive attitude made us persevere," said his mother.

"Not for a single moment did he pity himself. He continued hunting, driving the tractor and pottering on the farm. He never lost courage or the hope that he might recover.

"He wanted to do his LLB degree at North West University's Potchefstroom campus and was going to stay in one of the hostels."

On 12 December Jaco was admitted to hospital in Rustenburg.

His lungs were riddled with cancer and he couldn't breathe without a machine.

Over Christmas he went home for three days before being admitted again on 26 December.

On 27 December the Department of Education made a concession and released his results a day earlier.

"He was so happy that he had passed so well," his mother said.

The North West Provincial Department of Education honoured Jaco with a golden award for his courage and perseverance.

- Beeld