Where I come from
Friday the 13th March 1998 was the day faith started to rule my life.
Born on Friday 3 August 1990 I was a normal baby, toddler and child. I participated in dance-, speech and dramaclasses and sang in the school choir. I loved life and was looking forward to becoming a big sister after being an only child for almost seven years.
Then on 13th March 1998, within a few seconds, everything changed.
On our way to my grandparent’s house in Pretoria, my mom and I were in a serious car accident. A bus skipped a red light and collided into us.
I suffered a serious head injury and was comatose for almost a month. Doctors told my parents to put me in a home for disabled children because they believe I was permanently physically and mentally disabled from my injuries.
My parents, being Christian’s thought otherwise and believed that anything’s possible if you keep on praying and believing.
On Easter Sunday, still in the hospital and strapped to a chair to keep me up, I smiled when my dad recited a rhyme he used to say whenever he clipped my nails. That was their sign that God is answering their prayers.
15 April, I was transferred to the Wilgeheuwel clinic in Johannesburg where a brain shunt was put in to drain fluid seeping from a rip in my brain membrane.
My parents were told I’ll never be able to read and talk again and most probably won’t know the difference between a ball and a potato.
One afternoon my mother noticed I was staring at the television watching Tele Tubbies. She wrote on a piece of paper: “I love you” I just looked at it and after she explained what she had written I smiled. The she wrote: “Willem (my brother) is naughty” and showed it to me. I got exited and nodded my head. She realized I could still read and therefore definitely understand everything. We started to communicate with simple yes, no sentences and I responded by nodding my head.
I had to start al over again like a newborn baby. I used to be right-handed, now I had to learn how to do everything with my left hand. Thanks to wonderful therapists at the Argyle Centre in Braamfontein I started to crawl again on the 22nd July of that same year. Speech was still very bad and I used a paper with the alphabet to spell out my sentences.
On the 3rd of August 1998 I went back to school, Hope school for disabled children in Westcliff. I was in awheelchair and hated every second of it. It made me even more determined to walk again. On Sunday 14 March 1999 with the help of a walker, my dad painted purple on my instructions, I walked into our church.
During my grade 5 year I went back to the school I attended before the accident. It was not easy being disabled between able bodied children. I had to rely on other children to carry my bookcase and to help me up and down the stairs.
After a year of home schooling (Grade 8) I went to New Hope school in Pretoria and finished Grade 12 there, and I know the difference between a ball and a potato.
I have a lot of dreams for the future and my motto is: “Ek wil, ek kan, ek sal”, meaning : " I want to, I believe I can, therefore I shall".
I have completed my studies at Damelin and CTU and now have a Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies as well as a Certificate in Design Foundation. I am also an Adobe Certified Expert in Dreamweaver CS5 as wel as in Flash CS5. During my time at CTU in 2012 I was the SRC in my class and attended a SRC Leadership Workshop. In 2014 I started studying at CTI towards my Higher Certificate in Business Management.
I got my drivers license in 2012 and have my own car now so I don't always have to rely on others.
In 2015 I started my first job at UJ as a Research Assistant in the Zoology Department and later an Administrative Assistant at the Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering as well. I finished at Zoology the end of 2015.
During the National Eisteddfod in 2015 I worked at the ticket office.
From 2013 I have also been an Au Pair from time to time, this included taking children home after school, taking them to activities and appointments, helping with homework, occasional shopping as well as staying with them when the parents had to travel for work.
In the beginning of January 2019 I completed my 120 Hour TEFL course at Teach Tefl Language School online.
J am still working at the Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering in the morning.
I have a passion for life. I know I won’t be where I am today if it was not for all the prayers and faith in God.
With His help I know I will get even stronger, better and will reach the top.
Born on Friday 3 August 1990 I was a normal baby, toddler and child. I participated in dance-, speech and dramaclasses and sang in the school choir. I loved life and was looking forward to becoming a big sister after being an only child for almost seven years.
Then on 13th March 1998, within a few seconds, everything changed.
On our way to my grandparent’s house in Pretoria, my mom and I were in a serious car accident. A bus skipped a red light and collided into us.
I suffered a serious head injury and was comatose for almost a month. Doctors told my parents to put me in a home for disabled children because they believe I was permanently physically and mentally disabled from my injuries.
My parents, being Christian’s thought otherwise and believed that anything’s possible if you keep on praying and believing.
On Easter Sunday, still in the hospital and strapped to a chair to keep me up, I smiled when my dad recited a rhyme he used to say whenever he clipped my nails. That was their sign that God is answering their prayers.
15 April, I was transferred to the Wilgeheuwel clinic in Johannesburg where a brain shunt was put in to drain fluid seeping from a rip in my brain membrane.
My parents were told I’ll never be able to read and talk again and most probably won’t know the difference between a ball and a potato.
One afternoon my mother noticed I was staring at the television watching Tele Tubbies. She wrote on a piece of paper: “I love you” I just looked at it and after she explained what she had written I smiled. The she wrote: “Willem (my brother) is naughty” and showed it to me. I got exited and nodded my head. She realized I could still read and therefore definitely understand everything. We started to communicate with simple yes, no sentences and I responded by nodding my head.
I had to start al over again like a newborn baby. I used to be right-handed, now I had to learn how to do everything with my left hand. Thanks to wonderful therapists at the Argyle Centre in Braamfontein I started to crawl again on the 22nd July of that same year. Speech was still very bad and I used a paper with the alphabet to spell out my sentences.
On the 3rd of August 1998 I went back to school, Hope school for disabled children in Westcliff. I was in awheelchair and hated every second of it. It made me even more determined to walk again. On Sunday 14 March 1999 with the help of a walker, my dad painted purple on my instructions, I walked into our church.
During my grade 5 year I went back to the school I attended before the accident. It was not easy being disabled between able bodied children. I had to rely on other children to carry my bookcase and to help me up and down the stairs.
After a year of home schooling (Grade 8) I went to New Hope school in Pretoria and finished Grade 12 there, and I know the difference between a ball and a potato.
I have a lot of dreams for the future and my motto is: “Ek wil, ek kan, ek sal”, meaning : " I want to, I believe I can, therefore I shall".
I have completed my studies at Damelin and CTU and now have a Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies as well as a Certificate in Design Foundation. I am also an Adobe Certified Expert in Dreamweaver CS5 as wel as in Flash CS5. During my time at CTU in 2012 I was the SRC in my class and attended a SRC Leadership Workshop. In 2014 I started studying at CTI towards my Higher Certificate in Business Management.
I got my drivers license in 2012 and have my own car now so I don't always have to rely on others.
In 2015 I started my first job at UJ as a Research Assistant in the Zoology Department and later an Administrative Assistant at the Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering as well. I finished at Zoology the end of 2015.
During the National Eisteddfod in 2015 I worked at the ticket office.
From 2013 I have also been an Au Pair from time to time, this included taking children home after school, taking them to activities and appointments, helping with homework, occasional shopping as well as staying with them when the parents had to travel for work.
In the beginning of January 2019 I completed my 120 Hour TEFL course at Teach Tefl Language School online.
J am still working at the Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering in the morning.
I have a passion for life. I know I won’t be where I am today if it was not for all the prayers and faith in God.
With His help I know I will get even stronger, better and will reach the top.