Rameez "Remo" Cassiem has become a motivational speaker, radio presenter, advocate for people with disabilities and more recently, the star of his own one-man comedy show.
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"Whatever I am faced with, I believe that Allah's plan is bigger than mine and I trust that wholeheartedly."
These are the inspirational words of a 41-year-old Woodstock man who has had his fair share of challenges over the years but hasn't let them stop him from wanting to be a comedian, motivational speaker, husband and father.
Rameez "Remo" Cassiem was a vibrant and determined individual, living a fulfilling life until the day his body began to betray him. It started with numbness in his fingers, gradually spreading to his arms and legs. Simple tasks became daunting challenges.
The diagnosis was multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction blocks (MMN-CB), a rare and debilitating condition affecting the nerves.
"I've been living with it for the last 20 years now and it has been a slow impact over the years," Mr Cassiem said.
Before being diagnosed, he was also involved in a serious car accident, which nearly led to the end of his life.
In November 2003, he was invited to a 21st birthday party, but instead woke up in hospital with a cracked cranium, broken left clavicle, broken spine, broken ribs, punctured left lung, torn abdomen, ruptured bladder, broken pelvis and broken right humerus.
He was left in a comatose state for a month after being resuscitated, but miraculously made a full recovery after two years.
Mr Cassiem was diagnosed with MMN-CB in 2005.
"At 1st, it was a learning curve and I had to learn how to navigate life and never imagined that being a 23-year-old at the time, I needed to make some serious adjustments to my life," he said.
Born and bred in Cape Town, he spent his early years growing up in Woodstock, where he attended Chapel Street Primary School and then Trafalgar High School.
After being diagnosed, life changed for Mr Cassiem as everyday tasks started becoming a major challenge.
"It affected both my upper and lower limbs," he said, describing that he wears an ankle boot orthoses to aid his walking and a wrist brace to keep his wrists stable.
Rameez "Remo" Cassiem was diagnosed with Multifocal Motor Neuropathy with conduction block (MMN-CB) in 2005.
Image: Facebook
"Gradually over the years it has impacted me to a point where doing things like buttoning up a shirt, zipping up a jacket, tying my shoelaces, to name a few, is something I cannot do without assistance," Mr Cassiem said.
Despite facing these obstacles, he refused to raise the white flag, continued to work and turned his struggles into opportunities, becoming an advocate for awareness and understanding of MMN-CB.
He started a business, became a motivational speaker at schools, communities and organisations, started radio presenting and producing at Radio 786, where he advocated for people living with disabilities and more recently, he jumped on the Baxter theatre stage to perform his one-man show called, Remo - A true story about the day I died.
The show was well received with his debut performance going viral on Facebook.
Shaakirah Collins wrote: "He is a true inspiration to everybody and somebody that can really spark a change in our society. His show tug a string or two in our hearts, but it just teaches, appreciate what you have."
Toni Manual wrote: "Amazing and what an inspiration this guy is. Not giving up and despite your body deserting you, allow your mind to carry you forward. I was so moved by his performance and at the same time, proud to see him not laying down and just accepting."
Rameez "Remo" Cassiem does motivational speaking at schools, organisations and communities.
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Mr Cassiem has now set his sights on bringing back the show, only this time, he wants to perform to a wider audience.
"Right now, my achievement would be doing my one-man show all over South Africa," he said, adding that he also wants to tackle more schools, informal settlements and impoverished communities to "uplift the youth and communities at large again".
"I had to find communities of like-minded people surviving diagnosis, surviving trauma or surviving all sorts of things to help me navigate and understand my disability," Mr Cassiem said.
"I'm resilient and determined, but at first, it was a daunting reality to deal with because what I was diagnosed with has no cure, so I made it my mission to understand what I was up against."
If you wish to book Mr Cassiem for your next event, conference, school or workshop, email info.rameezcassiem@gmail.com
Rameez "Remo" Cassiem starred in hiss debut one man show called, Remo - A true story about the day I died.
Image: Facebook
Rameez "Remo" Cassiem during one of his motivational talks a school.
Image: Facebook