GMA: Helping the Oosthuizen family after a Fatal Accident

GOOD MORNING ANGELS 10 FEBRUARY 2016 (JG OOSTHUIZEN/SPAR/MEDOP)

Helping 18-year old JG Oosthuizen and his family adapt to their new reality - after he broke his neck and spine

REQUEST FROM: Various listeners, including Linden Hoërskool

REQUEST FOR: JG Oosthuizen and his mom, Ezeth and their family.

ANGEL 1: Retha Ingenbleeck, Spar North Rand

SPONSORING: Our friends at Spar North Rand will donate R30 000,00 towards the fund set up for JG's treatment and expenses associated with his accident.

ANGEL 2: The Good Morning Angels Fund and Medop CC MD, Simon Haifer

SPONSORING: The GMA Fund will match Spar's donation by purchasing a special motorized bed and hoist for JG when he goes home from rehab, at a special rate from Medop CC, to the value of R30 000,00.

AND: Medop CC will meet with Ezeth and JG so establish any other needs they have to make JG comfortable, when he goes home.

BACKGROUND: A few days before his final school year started, school rugby star and prefect, JG Oosthuizen and his family's lives changed in what those who were there, described as a "freak"accident. JG was swimming in the sea in Mosselbay along with his older brother and cousin. He dove into a wave and in a moment broke his neck and severed his spinal cord. He went into the water at the prime of his physical ability, an excellent sportsman. He came out a quadriplegic.

YOU CAN HELP: A trust fund is being set up for JG Oosthuizen and in the meantime, Linden Hoërskool has helped to set up a bank account for donations:

ACCOUNT DETAIL: JG Oosthuizen

                                     FNB Fluid Savings account  

                                     Account nr: 623 969 813 60

                                     Branch: Hyde Park, code: 255 805

ORIGINAL REQUEST:

Beste Breakfast span,

Ek is nie goed met woorde nie, maar kort julle hulp. Hierdie is min of meer die storie van JG Oosthuizen.  Dis my man se neef.  Toe ek en my man begin uitgaan het, way back in the day, was JG nog 'n ou rakkertjie.  Ek onthou hoe ek en hy opgeteam het en teen Johan en JG se ouer broer Bekker rugby gespeel het by ouma Siena se huis in die Vrystaat.

Wat met JG gebeur het is tragies, hy is regtig 'n uitmuntende sportman.  Ek ken nie al die feite nie, maar ek wil regtig groot asseblief vra of Good morning Angles asseblief nie vir JG en sy gesin kan help nie.  Die gemeenskap van Linden is reeds besig met insameling. Bel asseblief vir Linden Hoërskool en kyk hoe julle kan help.  Ek smeek julle!

Baie dankie.

Groete,

Leona

ANOTHER REQUEST:

Dear Dianne,

I would like to submit a request for help in finding a house that we can buy

with some financial assistance.

Over this past December holiday season my life partners' son JG, was rendered a quadriplegic, while playing in the ocean, along with his brother and cousin in Mosselbaai. An accident that can only be describe as freak, had an instant impact on his life and the repercussions there of, can only be described as life changing and life long.

After an initial six hour operation and having him stabilised in ICU for a week, he was transferred from the George Mediclinic, to a facility in Randburg, where JG currently receives rehabilitation therapy.  He now has to undergo specialist attention, to establish his remaining range of feeling and movement and will need to be coached in how to cope with his disability. 

From here, he will be released into the care of his family and most likely the help of a trained care giver. It is with these circumstances in mind, that I put forward this request for some much needed assistance.

As a family, we are currently renting a property at a cost of approximately R 8 500 a month + water lights etc. This is probably the most we can afford to pay towards a bond at this stage. However if we incorporate a Biokinetics practice at home for Ezeth, (my life Partner) this amount can be increased by approximately R4 500 a month, totalling R13 000 per month.

In approximately three months from the 25 of January 2016, it is expected, that JG, will probably be discharged from the rehabilitation hospital, to come home. Unfortunately, our home is not wheelchair or for that matter quadriplegic friendly and because we are renting, are not able to renovate to make it so.

Having looked to buy a house that would suit our needs, we are not able to find anything suitable to accommodate a person in a wheelchair and the specialist equipment that a quadriplegic requires from day to day. Properties that would be acceptable, are in a price range that we are not able to afford.

Ezeth is the breadwinner of the family and as such earns more than the lions share of the families income. I work as a Landscaper.  

Ezeth's eldest son Bekker, starts his 3rd year studying Biokinetics at Potchefstroom university. His fees, accommodation and living expenses are also constitute a large portion of the families monthly expenses but we feel that the family, would be best served, if he completed his studies and then had the opportunity to help the family financially.

A major consideration for us, is that we will have all the specific requirements needed by a quadriplegic patient, and the costs thereof, added to our current budget. These costs will undoubtedly impact on the families capability to continue in some semblance of normality. For example: A hospital bed is a necessity, along with a motorised wheelchair, a track system fitted to the ceiling or a tripod hoist, will need to be purchased to hoist JG out of bed and into his chair, or to move him to the bathroom etc.

The costs of all the medical equipment may at this stage still be taken care of by our medical aid, but a decision from them is still pending at this stage.  A vehicle to transport JG in his wheelchair will need to be funded by us, which, at this stage, is also not possible.

Ezeth will be on hand to assist with his daily needs and further into his physical rehabilitation, be able to take on the task of keeping him as fit and healthy as possible. To put some of these needs into perspective, when he is in bed, he will need to be turned every two hours.  He will need to be catheterized and all his bodily functions taken care of. He will need to be hand fed and will need

continuous physiotherapy for a period of at least two years, after leaving the rehabilitation hospital. He will require continued therapies throughout his life thereafter, to maintain as much strength and mobility as possible.

The necessity of having Ezeth's Biokinetics practice at home, affords JG the best possible chance of continued therapy, as Ezeth will be able to take on these duties in the future.

A fundraising drive was started by JG's high school namely, Hoërskool Linden, which we hope will cover the shortfall. The needs of a quadriplegic are extensive and this request is based purely to try and make a start, in trying to make life for JG going forward, as normal as possible. That normality can never be the same as it was, but we have to try and bring back some dignity and some semblance of normality, to help JG integrate back into society. The sooner we achieve this, the fuller the rest of his life will become.

I understand that this request has enormous gravity and that the costs will be substantial but we have no alternative other than to look for help.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your organisation for its kind consideration and appreciate any assistance that may be forthcoming

I look forward to your response.

Yours Faithfull

Keith Carter

Take a listen to the story from this morning:

We teamed up with a few individuals who made a huge difference to the Oosthuizen family. take a listen: 

Take a look at the video below: