Former rugby star Joost van der Westhuizen insists he will never stop fighting as he looks to recover from a serious illness.
The 1995 World Cup winner has been diagnosed with motor neuron disease and has been given only a few years to live.
However, Joost is defiant in the face of the bad news.
“I’ve been a fighter all my life. I’m going to fight this thing mentally and to the best of my ability. Don’t worry, I’m not going to die on you too soon. I’m going to fight it,” van der Westhuizen told TimesLIVE.
Joost is currently undergoing a new stem cell treatment and is in good spirits despite the dire situation.
“I speak like this because of my disease. I’m not pissed,” he joked.
“Imagine if we have a breakthrough. Let’s hold thumbs and pray,” the former Blue Bulls scrum-half added.
What are you messages of support for Joost?
Your talent inspired me, my thoughts are with you. you can do it.
i’m am sorry that you were diagnosed with such a disease but proud and happy for you that you have chosen to take control. all the best wishes for you and your family, praying for you to come out on top. big smiles!!!
Die Here se genade is met jou.
Die Seën van die Here word oor jou uitgespreek.
Hy sal jou dra waar jy nog nie geloop het nie.
Sterkte.
hi joost,you can only look to our creator,who knows all our plans,remember john asked him why i am going through this,but god didnot leave his side,strive for that ,now is your time to speak to him.keep on smiling god loves you.
Ai Joost ek is so jammer oor dit wat op jou pad voorle maar ek glo en vertrou dat jy sal herstel al is dit net om jou kinders se onthalwe. Ek bid vir jou!
Sterkte en bly positief en fight, fight fight.
I appreciate the efforts doctors make to help people in sickness and illness.But when you get a report that says you cannot be cured,it is a fact from scientific point of view that science cannot cure you.But where there is no Cure God always has healing,I have witnessed so many people healed of incurable ilnesses such as cancer.God can heal you and restore you to perfect health,Please Joost give God a chance to show his Strength and power in your situation.Please check SCOAN.
life is about truggling and fighting to servive keep up boetie and fight as a soldier
Hi Joost praying for you that Jesus will touch you and heal you He loves Bro never forget that. Jesus cares and so do we.
Iinduma zendoda zingaphambili keep on fighting brother.
alles wat goed is vir jou, ons hou jou in ons harte
MULLER FAMILIE KAAPSTAD
[WINDHOND SE FAMILIE]
Carwards die many times before they are dead soldiers die in their armour keep on fighting
It is only god who knows when are we going to die, so Mr Joosh remain strong and have a hope
Joost, good to see you are keeping your faith and keeping strong..we are all tested daily by the Allmighty..I pray you make a complete recovery and outlive most of us.. keep smiling
Jy is en bly n nasionale held vir ons.Ons huisgesin se gebede vir volkome herstel vergesel die boodskap.VASBYT ou maat,jy is n vegter.
Hi Jooste,
Trust in the Lord.all things are possible in his name.
Thinking of you in prayer.May the precious blood of Jesus
cover you and your family during this testing time.
God Bless
JOOST, BLY POSITIEF DIS NIE ALTYD MAKLIK
Joost, no disease is incurable. I would encourage you to obtain a book by Dr Henry Wright called A More Excellent Way. Many people have been healed with seemingly impossible situations, he reveals how there are spiritual roots to the diseases and how to overcome. A similar teaching is from Dr Art Mattias. Our Heavenly Father already overcame all diseases, read 1 Peter 2 v 24. By His Stripes we have been healed. I pray that you will have revelation of that scripture, that is where the healing is, already done!! Blessings
HANG IN THERE BOET
Sterkte met jou siekte. Glo is die beste medisyne.
Hello Joost,
When we are weak God is strong in us. God says He will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. I do not mind what the world says for I know that God can and will heal you. You have been chosen to be a witness for God oneday.
In Jesus Name
fight for your life through prayers nothing is imposible with God, have faith.
You were the best scrumhalf the world has seen, you made it through Camp Staaldraad, this will be a walk in the park boet, hang in there Joost; you must stay positive and fight, fight, fight; see you in 20 years time!!
Be strong always and remember that He will not let you down.
I was close to deaths’ door 6 years ago – the doctors gave me 3 days max to live and then He answered our prayers.
The only way I have managed to get through my bad days is by reminding myself that there is always someone worse off than me.
Joost, when I went to the internet to try to learn a little about you, one of the moments it highlighted is the day you and your teammates won the RWC for your country, in 1995, in your very own backyard – South Africa. You were true heroes! But JoOst I have heard the old, old, man say “the greatest honor a man can achieve is to live with great courage, and to die gloriously in battle for his home.” It’s up to you and God now.
In Oct. 2005 God healed me from a lower back pain and since that day until now the pain has disappeared. God wants to draw you nearer to him in this way (this illness) so that you can witness about his healing power. The minute you hand your life over to Him and ask him to take control He is gonna heal you His own way as He says in His word that He has created heaven and earth and everything in it. Even today God is still the same, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the same God that released the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. At the same time He is a God of miracles and nothing is impossible with Him. Call upon Him and so let His will be done in your life. Will be keeping you in our prayers.
Joost ek dink en bid vir jou!.. Ons het ‘n Genadige God, ‘n God wie vir jou baie lief het, alles wat met ons in die lewe gebeur gebeur met ‘n doel! Jys ‘n wonderlike mens..
Hang in there Boet, always loved your sparkling eyes.You are healed
by his stripes.
HOMEOPATHY will cure you.
You are in my thoughts and prayers Joost, may God be with you and always believe in Him, for He will give you the strength that you will need all you have to do is to ask it of Him and He will give it.
Thoughts and prayers are with you. May Our Lord have his loving arms around you and may you be filled with his love and strength
Hallo Joost
Jy versinnebeeld die veggees van ‘n ware kampioen.!!
Daar is baie mense wat vir jou en jou familie bid.
STERKTE MET JOU REIS.!
Be strong Jooste, May God be with you all the way.
Bly Glo!
Hi Joost
So easy for those of us who are not ill to say have faith, but it really does work. Have faith in your body’s power to heal itself and faith in your creator. Wishing the best for you and hope to see a photo here of you again with a smiling happy face.
Hi Joost
I don’t know you but I am praying for you.
When days are dark and you feel no hope – look down the dark tunnel and you will see the light. Never give up believing that our Lord and Saviour will heed your call – but you have to call on Him – remember the Bible states knock and the door will be opened and He will step into the heart of your problem and you WILL BE healed. Remember the Bible clearly states that by HIS stripes you are healed. Keep strong and have faith. May you feel the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ that surpasses all understanding in this trying time. You are strong and have managed to overcome many obstacles in your path. Take care remember the Nation loves you. with best wishes Agnes Roberts
Dear Joost. I just want to say how proud I am of the way you are handeling this…. You have made so many of us SAFAS proud to be South African through the years by your on and off the field achievments both as the greatest scrumie that ever played and that of a family man…. We have all made mistakes a long the way God knows my list is long.. You have always stood up to things as a man at the end of the day and you sure as hell are doing it now… South Africans are, have and will always be very proud to have you as one of our most cherished sons!!!! You can pull through this thing Joost, Vasbyt boet
Stoffie Watson.