Dr Cival Mills

Percival Christoffel (Cival) Mills was born on 27 September 1974 in Kroonstad Hospital where his dad, Dr NE (Neville) Mills, was busy with his internship. 

He grew up on the Eastern Highveld of Mpumalanga and attended Tinki Tonki Pre-primary school in Evander where he holds the infamous award as first learner, of four years old, to AWOL pre-primary school (absent without leave/permission) 'because the teachers were wasting his time'!

He attended Laerskool Hoëveld (a Primary school) and Evander High School and was head boy at both these schools. He was one of the Top 5 Academic Achieves and Expo Winner: S-E Transvaal (Science and Technology).

He was captain of the 1st Rugby and Cricket teams. He was the S-E Transvaal (Schools) athletics champion in the 800m; Cricket Player of the Year; Rugby Player of the Year and Chairperson: Inter-Schools Debate. He obtained rugby Provincial Colours for S-E Transvaal Schools and played for the University of Pretoria under 19 A Team.

He registered at the University of Pretoria and graduated in December 1999 obtaining the degree MB ChB. He completed his internship at Shongwe Hospital, near the border of Swaziland, Province of Mpumalanga. He was involved in a motor accident on the 10th of December 2000 which eventually left him with "Locked-in Syndrome". ( A neurological disorder characterized by complete paralysis of voluntary muscles in all parts of the body except for those that control eye movement; only vertical movements of the eyes and blinking is possible.)

He has since written two books, designed an innovative IT device called "Thingy" and has worked as a medical researcher at Discovery Health.

Cival still believes this too will pass and that he will be able to live a reasonably normal life one day: experiencing all improvements in his condition - and situation - as miracles: some bigger, some smaller .