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Cape Town - She had to tell her children their daddy - Joost van de Westhuizen - was dying before they heard it from friends at school because he had asked her to do so.
But a week later she read a newspaper report that suggested the bad news she had conveyed to her children might not be accurate.
Even though she isn’t ill the past few days have been very difficult for Amor Vittone. Joost is after all the father of her children and although they’re estranged he’s still her husband.
Amor spoke openly to YOU magazine about the day she heard Joost has a fatal motor neuron disease. She says the only reason she’s speaking out is to put an end to all the questions people are directing at her.
"I’m in the dark and it’s driving me crazy. I had to tell Jordan (7) and Kylie (5) their dad was dying because I was afraid one of his friends would tell him at school.
"Now I ask you, if they weren’t certain about the first diagnosis why did I have to tell our children that? And why did Joost and his team announce it to the media so prematurely?" Amor asks in confusion.
18 months to live
That first day in hospital Dr Pieter Kritzinger told her he had diagnosed Joost with the most common form of motor neuron disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Joost told her he had only 18 months to five years to live.
Former Blue Bulls’ team doctor and Joost’s personal friend Dr Henry Kelbrick announced to the media on behalf of the 40-year-old former Springbok rugby captain that he had been diagnosed with the incurable muscle-related neurological disease.
And that a second neurologist in Johannesburg had confirmed the diagnosis.
But Dr Jody Pearl, a neurologist who’s conducting tests on Joost, says it’s by no means a foregone conclusion that he has ALS and his investigation will reveal the final diagnosis only in about four weeks’ time.
In the dark
In radio interviews with Jacaranda 94.2 and 702 Talk Radio Joost has criticised the media for deciding he has ALS and possibly only 18 months to live.
Meanwhile those closest to him, and most affected by his condition, are in the dark about what’s going on.
Amor says the uncertainty is driving her insane. Even though she is directly affected Joost won’t answer any of her questions.
They split a year and a half ago and he moved out of their home in Dainfern, west of Johannesburg, where Amor and their children still live. He then sued her for divorce.
But the divorce case has been dragging on for more than a year and the fact they’re married in community of property is making Amor extremely nervous about what awaits them as it might mean that she’s jointly responsible for all Joost’s debts and he for hers.
A week before he was admitted to hospital Amor issued summons to Joost, demanding that he reveal all his assets.
She is yet to receive a reply.
She’s terrified people might interpret her doubts as insensitivity. "People ask me why I’m so hard on Joost during this difficult time. But I’m just afraid and unsure," she explains. "I just want answers."
Read the full interview with Amor in YOU’s June 2 2011 issue.
But a week later she read a newspaper report that suggested the bad news she had conveyed to her children might not be accurate.
Even though she isn’t ill the past few days have been very difficult for Amor Vittone. Joost is after all the father of her children and although they’re estranged he’s still her husband.
Amor spoke openly to YOU magazine about the day she heard Joost has a fatal motor neuron disease. She says the only reason she’s speaking out is to put an end to all the questions people are directing at her.
"I’m in the dark and it’s driving me crazy. I had to tell Jordan (7) and Kylie (5) their dad was dying because I was afraid one of his friends would tell him at school.
"Now I ask you, if they weren’t certain about the first diagnosis why did I have to tell our children that? And why did Joost and his team announce it to the media so prematurely?" Amor asks in confusion.
18 months to live
That first day in hospital Dr Pieter Kritzinger told her he had diagnosed Joost with the most common form of motor neuron disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Joost told her he had only 18 months to five years to live.
Former Blue Bulls’ team doctor and Joost’s personal friend Dr Henry Kelbrick announced to the media on behalf of the 40-year-old former Springbok rugby captain that he had been diagnosed with the incurable muscle-related neurological disease.And that a second neurologist in Johannesburg had confirmed the diagnosis.
But Dr Jody Pearl, a neurologist who’s conducting tests on Joost, says it’s by no means a foregone conclusion that he has ALS and his investigation will reveal the final diagnosis only in about four weeks’ time.
In the dark
In radio interviews with Jacaranda 94.2 and 702 Talk Radio Joost has criticised the media for deciding he has ALS and possibly only 18 months to live.
Meanwhile those closest to him, and most affected by his condition, are in the dark about what’s going on.
Amor says the uncertainty is driving her insane. Even though she is directly affected Joost won’t answer any of her questions.
They split a year and a half ago and he moved out of their home in Dainfern, west of Johannesburg, where Amor and their children still live. He then sued her for divorce.
But the divorce case has been dragging on for more than a year and the fact they’re married in community of property is making Amor extremely nervous about what awaits them as it might mean that she’s jointly responsible for all Joost’s debts and he for hers.
A week before he was admitted to hospital Amor issued summons to Joost, demanding that he reveal all his assets.
She is yet to receive a reply.
She’s terrified people might interpret her doubts as insensitivity. "People ask me why I’m so hard on Joost during this difficult time. But I’m just afraid and unsure," she explains. "I just want answers."
Read the full interview with Amor in YOU’s June 2 2011 issue.
