Boy may have had a stroke after brick struck head

Caden, 8, is currently recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery for the injury.

 

An unknown man threw a brick through the passenger window of his father’s car on the N12 highway near The Glen shopping centre on April 30.

 

Caden was placed in an induced coma immediately after the incident, and was brought out of the coma on Wednesday following successful surgery.

 

He is not yet fully conscious, and cries a lot, his mother Andriette Cooper said on Saturday.

 

Possible stroke

 

Doctors suspect he suffered a stroke as a result of the injury, she said. His speech and personality could be affected, having been hit on the left side of his head.

 

The doctors are pleased with his progress, but it will still be a while before the family knows what damage is permanent and what is temporary, she added.

 

On Friday, Caden opened his eyes for the first time since the incident, his father Justin Slabbert told Netwerk24.

 

"He is still very lethargic and not quite awake. The doctor said it could take three weeks before the medicine wears out," he said.

 

Other victims

 

Four separate incidents of a similar nature had been reported that day, allegedly carried out by the same perpetrator.

 

Marionette Schwab, 42, was a second victim of the reported series of attacks. She was also hit on the head further down the same highway, and is currently still in an induced coma.

 

Darrell Badenhorst, her fiancé, said on Sunday that she is still attached to a ventilator, but all medication has been stopped so she could regain consciousness.

 

"It's a slow process, but the doctors are satisfied with her progress. Her reflexes can only be tested when she is awake."

 

‘Unstable’

 

The man allegedly responsible for injuring Slabbert and Schwab, meanwhile, is unstable, Johannesburg metro police said last week.

 

"Since the incident, JMPD is working closely with Saps and information received is that this suspect is mentally deranged," Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said on Wednesday.

 

"We have leads on the individual and at the moment we are searching for him.

 

"JMPD is monitoring the bridge and Saps is searching for the man."