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Their 'fur baby' Giorgio, is now firmly on the road to recovery after he was paralysed in June because of a spinal disc injury.
A photo posted by Imari Du Plessis (@imagesbyimari) on
Imari shared a cute video on social media of their beloved pup walking again.
Giorgio had a morning of Pilates/Bootcamp/treadmill. His rehab team are superstars!
A video posted by Imari Du Plessis (@imagesbyimari) on
On 13 June the Du Plessis’ housekeeper discovered the family’s beloved dachshund Giorgio – a gift from Faf – was suddenly paralysed.
“I got a call from our housekeeper to say that there was something wrong with his feet and when I got there, his hind legs were paralysed and he was in pain,” Imari told YOU.
“I immediately took him to the Panorama Veterinary Clinic [near Cape Town] because he’d previously had a back operation and I knew it was urgent. There’s only one veterinary spinal surgeon in Cape Town. I was supposed to fly to Barbados the next day.” Giorgio’s back was operated on again within the month. “He had to rest first and stayed in the clinic, after which I cared for him at home and started his rehabilitation,” says Imari, who also has a six-year-old dachshund called Bella. “I take Giorgio to the homeopathic vet Dr Barry Hindmarch for acupuncture, spinal injections, laser therapy and muscle stimulation. He also gets hydrotherapy and physiotherapy sessions at the Blue Cross Veterinary Hospital in Newlands [Cape Town].”
A photo posted by Imari Du Plessis (@imagesbyimari) on
Imari also exercises Giorgio at home. She massages him, places hot water bottles on his back and performs cycling-type movements with his legs. “Faf was a great help the three weeks he was home. Four times a day we walk Giorgio in a special walker that supports his hind legs and Faf was mostly the one who did that so that I could be on time for life – because I’m always late these days.”
A video posted by Imari Du Plessis (@imagesbyimari) on
My morning... Rehab with Giorgio #hakunamatata
A video posted by Imari Du Plessis (@imagesbyimari) on
There’s no doubt Imari has a big heart. When she’s not being a mom to their two dogs, she does charity work for the Hillsong Africa Foundation. Amongst other projects, she’s raised money for Women Against Rape (WAR) along with her friend Charlene Engels, the ex-Protea Jacques Kallis’ girlfriend. She also regularly puts together care packages for rape survivors.
A photo posted by Imari Du Plessis (@imagesbyimari) on
“Next I’ll be working with a safe haven for women who’ve decided not to have abortions. Their [the haven’s] funds are running low,” she says.
In November Imari and Faf will be celebrating their third anniversary. Their secret to wedded bliss?
“It’s only grace – and you make a conscious decision to put your marriage first. It’s a decision you have to reaffirm time and again and together you grow in that.”
The couple moved to Cape Town last year from Pretoria and currently live in Westlake. “I adapted very easily. This is the fourth city I call home, so I like a fresh start.”
What’s the most enjoyable thing about living in Cape Town? “Spending more time in nature – I grew up on a farm.”
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