WATCH: Injured EG Jansen boy recovering well
Tryston said his faith, family and those who are supporting him are helping him to get through this time.
“My goal is to do extreme sports again.”
These are the words of Tryston Jansen van Vuuren, the Grade Nine learner from Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen who was seriously injured in a freak accident.
Doctors initially told his parents, Jan and Michelle, he would have to be treated in hospital for six to eight weeks after a giant tyre fell on him at school on September 13 when he and his friends were playing with it.
Tryston was, however, discharged on October 6 and visited the school with his parents and grandparents on October 13 to greet his friends and finalise school matters.
“It was amazing to see my friends again. I haven’t seen them face to face in a month,” he said.
Thinking back on the freak accident, Tryston said it was extremely painful.
“I couldn’t really feel my feet and I struggled to walk. I’m feeling better now and I’m starting to walk on my own without the walking frame. I just want to do extreme sports like motocross again.
“If my hero, America daredevil Travis Prastrena, could break every bone in his body and still ride a motorcycle afterwards, so can I,” said Tryston.
Tryston said his faith, family and those who are supporting him are helping him to get through this time.
“I want to thank the school for standing behind me, my church and my parents and grandparents. Some people from overseas even said they’re praying for me and I really appreciate it. I also want to thank Sandy Dreyer for assisting me at the time of the accident.”
The biggest lesson he learned from the accident: don’t play with tyres that weigh over 300kg and live everyday as if it is your last.
Michelle and Jan explained Tryston will be home-schooled as he still needs to go for intensive rehabilitation and therapy.
“We’ll probably get a tutor for him so he doesn’t have to repeat the year,” said Michelle.
Angels gather to assist the family
While large sums of his treatment costs have been covered by their medical aid, the co-payments and other expenses are piling up.
Tryston’s medical treatment crowdfunding page (https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/tryston-jansen-van-vuuren) has reached over R37 000 of the R50 000. However, the family has no idea what lies ahead and reached out to Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels.
Their plea did not fall on deaf ears.
The first angel is Dr Mario Greyling, CEO Claytoncare Group, that specialises in medically complex rehabilitation. They invited Tryston to their Johannesburg facility, where he will be admitted, properly assessed and receive the full complement of rehab to help him heal and walk again (cost per day is R3 800 to R4 600).
The Good Morning Angels Fund will also assist the family with R20 000 to help with Tryston’s medical needs and treatment costs.
Jan and Michelle expressed their gratitude to the angels that assisted the family.
Also Read: Injured EG Jansen boy glad to be home
Also Read: Injured EG Jansen learner may be in hospital for eight weeks
