Reeva Steenkamp’s mother diagnosed with devastating brain disorder
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June, sustained serious brain damage after her stroke earlier this month.
June Steenkamp, mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, has received a devastating health diagnosis following her recent stroke.
At the same time, news has emerged that Oscar Pistorius – who murdered Reeva in 2013 after claiming he mistook her for an intruder – is planning to settle down with his new partner, Rita Greyling, who closely resembles the late model.
Pistorius was released on parole last year after serving half of his murder sentence.
REEVA STEENKAMP’S MOM SUFFERS HEARTBREAKING DIAGNOSIS
This week, the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation – an anti-gender-based violence charity named after the late model – released a heartbreaking health update about Reeva’s mother.
In a social media post, the foundation revealed that June had marked her 79th birthday after suffering a stroke earlier this month.
The post added that doctors had diagnosed June with a severe form of Wernicke’s Aphasia, a degenerative disorder that impairs the brain’s ability to process spoken and written language.
The post read: “The aphasia has stripped away her defenses, allowing June’s warmth, her loving, friendly, and kind personality, to shine through.
“She cannot hide behind the facade she built over the years to protect herself from the cruelty and hurt caused by unkind and vicious criticism from some.
It added: “To many it may seem like a blessing in disguise. To us who were privileged to know the real June, it’s not. We miss you, June”.
FORGETTING MEMORIES OF DAUGHTER
Speaking to MailOnline last week, Reeva Steenkamp’s family attorney, Tania Koen, stated that June had shown signs of memory loss.
She said: “It’s as if she’s gone back to the person she was before Reeva died.
“She was always a warm and loving person. But now she smiles in a way she hasn’t smiled for so many years.”
A “family friend” also shared their concerns that June could forget all recollections of Reeva.
They told the publication: “It’s heartbreaking to think that she might not be able to remember what happened to Reeva”.