Rota doctor takes first steps

Rota Health Center’s Dr. Francois Claassens took his first steps and spoke his first words to his wife and children last week after sustaining serious injuries in a brutal attack at his Rota residence, according to his wife, Evangeline Agtarap Claassens.

“Of course” were the doctor’s words to his wife after regaining consciousness and taking a few seconds to recognize her as she stood beside his hospital bed in Guam. 

Tears rolled down his face as he saw his children and uttered the words, “Hello Seuntjie,” which is South African for “son.” Claassens is originally from South Africa.

It was his son who reportedly called authorities to inform them of the incident that happened on April 4, 2015.

Evangeline told Saipan Tribune that she now considers “every day a blessing.”

The only physician at the Rota Health Center was said to have a 20-percent chance of survival in his first days at a hospital in Guam. Despite those odds, he took his first steps after almost two weeks of being unconscious and on life support. 

“My husband had three steps…using a walker and with assistance. He also sat on the wheelchair for a couple of hours,” Evangeline said.

She explained that despite being lethargic, the doctor is expected, according to Guam doctors, to fully recover in due time. She said that after his resuscitation, the doctor’s deep lacerations healed without any nosocomial infections.

“He is eating well. However, his mentation, gross and fine motor skills are still a bit of a challenge. He eats good but with full assistance,” she added. “With patience and love, nothing is impossible. I am very optimistic he will recover fully.”

The entire Claassens’ family will be accompanying the doctor to Hawaii in the next two weeks, where he will undergo rehabilitation to optimize his functional capacity.

“My kids are doing fine…I like it that way versus crying silently. For now, I am taking life one stride at a time, just focusing on the next step which is going to be rehabilitation.”

Evangeline said her son, Henry, is starting to verbalize his feelings as his father’s health progresses.

The healing process, she added, is for the entire family. 

“The acute phase is done but I know it will still be a long process.”

She said that her husband’s survival would not have been possible without the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, U.S Naval Hospital, Rota Health Center and Commonwealth Health Center doctors, nurses, and personnel. 

She expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from friends and relatives on Rota and around the globe.

“Now that I have my husband back, I am not angry anymore but instead, I feel hopeful and blessed,” she said.