Update: Deputy mayor's daugther mauled by dogs

KNYSNA NEWS FLASH - Nadine Rodeom, the 43-year-old daughter of Knysna's deputy mayor Esmé Edge, who was hideously savaged by two Boerboel dogs while visiting family in Pretoria last Thursday, May 21, remains in critical condition undergoing ongoing surgery, said her mother today, Monday, May 25.

Edge, in a telephone conversation with the Knysna-Plett Herald, said that Nadine went into theatre for her third operation on Monday morning at the Mediclinic Midstream Hospital in Centurion, since her left arm was amputated at the elbow right after the attack on Thursday.

"The first surgery was emergency surgery as she almost bled out, the attack was so severe," said Edge.

Nadine has suffered extensive bites to her other arm as high as her shoulder, her back and her legs, said Edge.

So severe were her wounds that, according to Edge, the anaesthetist on the team of doctors treating Nadine said that they “had never seen such damage before”.

Many Knysna residents know and love Nadine, who works at Knysna's Food Lovers Market (Fruit and Veg City) where she has been supplying fresh orange juice for the past 10 years.

According to Edge, Nadine is expected to be in high-care for the next three weeks and then in hospital for anything up to three months.

"For now, Nadine will have extensive surgery every second day for the maximum period of three hours until her wounds are cleaned of all the dog hair and dirt, which is the biggest danger we are facing now as this can cause infection."

Edge said that that, on Monday, doctors again worked on the operation site where Nadine's left arm had been amputated. The wound was not even closed up yet since it still needed extensive work.

"Her right arm is heavily bandaged and although she has sensation in her fingers she can't even lift her arm," said Edge who added that her daughter was far from out of danger.

While Edge admitted that she was battling with the ordeal that is “any mother’s worst nightmare”, she said that she was so proud of her “tiny little daughter who was so brave”.

Edge said that, today, Nadine asked when she could go back to work as she was the only who could produce the orange juice the way she did.

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