If you ever find yourself in need of a reminder of the power of human resilience, the life and journey of Bruce Campbell is a great place to start. Diagnosed with two rare diseases, he faced immense challenges that could have easily derailed his life or left him in a wheelchair. But, with unmatched resilience and a “can-do” attitude, he not only overcame pain, paralysis and obstacles but also excelled in various sports and is a living beacon of hope for thousands.
Eastern Cape, South Africa (06 January 2025) – It takes a remarkable person with an undying spirit and can-do attitude to relentlessly go after their dreams -and go on to excel- despite suffering two rare and life-threatening health conditions.
A true-born, inspiring athlete, Bruce Campbell is known to many as an award-winning national and international sports star in several fields. Be it mountain biking, competitive water or long-distance marathons, the Eastern Cape multi-sport champion comes alive at the signal of the starting buzzer and gives it his all!
What many fans may not know, when watching Campbell on his bike or in the water, is that he had Guillain-Barré syndrome as a child and then Pompe Disease as an adult – two extremely rare and debilitating diseases.
According to Nelson Mandela University (NMU), at six years old, while camping with his family, Campbell collapsed and couldn’t get up. He was rushed to Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, where specialists diagnosed him with Guillain-Barré, which attacks the nervous system.
The condition left him paralysed. He underwent an emergency tracheotomy and was hooked to a ventilator.
“The prognosis was grim. Doctors told my parents that I might never walk again or regain full cognitive function,” he shares.
It took a great mental shift and tapping into a newfound sense of resilience for Campbell to persevere through months of pain.
He soon moved from a wheelchair to the floor, learning to crawl again. He later regained his ability to swim with his dad at his side and went on to represent the Eastern Cape in swimming, water polo, mountain biking, triathlons and surfing, coming second in South Africa for the sport, first in lifesaving and winning both on-road and off-road triathlon championships.
He later represented South Africa at the Cross Triathlon World Champs in Germany, placing seventh in the world.
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“These were not just physical milestones—they were life-affirming victories that ignited my passion for sport,” says Campbell.
But yet another dark and very undeserving cloud loomed over this remarkable life. While working as a teacher in 2015, despite his previous triumphs, Campbell suddenly experienced difficulty walking. He recalls struggling to even climb the stairs to his classroom. The diagnosis was a shock: Pompe Disease, a rare condition that causes an abnormal buildup of glycogen in cells, leading to muscle and nerve damage.
Medicine was available to treat it, but the doctor warned Campbell that it was “extremely expensive” and that he might have a life-threatening allergic reaction. A devasted Campbell was advised to stop all sports and exercise since it would cause a more rapid breakdown of his muscles, NMU reports.
He was later introduced to the Rare Diseases South Africa (RDSA), where he was informed that his medical aid should cover the treatment, which involved a bi-weekly intravenous drip costing R466,000 per month. For the past eight years, Campbell and his wife have mixed the medication, and a nurse administers the infusion intravenously for five to six hours.
As he regained his strength, Campbell focused on cycling and has used it as a platform to raise awareness about the many rare diseases afflicting thousands of people both in South Africa and around the world.
Despite surviving two rare diseases, he considered himself lucky. He continues to live life to the fullest and inspires many others along the way. Today, as an inspiring ambassador of RDSA, Campbell has repeatedly completed challenging endurance events like the Cape Epic, the Munga, and the Ironman.
Campbell is reliance personified. He didn’t just survive, he thrived!
Sources: Nelson Mandela University
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