This is what fatherhood means to Dad Leon
The saying that 'No man in this world can love a girl like her father' describes the relationship between 11 year old Johané Coomans and her father Leon Coomans.
Leon is a Tzaneen security expert and a veteran police officer who says his daughter gives him a reason to get up every day.
To him fatherhood means that his daughter is safe, healthy and happy, every day of her life.
The way he loves his girl, one would be astounded to learn that his parents gave him up to an orphanage in Potchefstroom where he lived until he finished school.
“Growing up without both parents’ love wasn’t pleasant at all,” he explained.
Despite his daunting childhood, this local hero did not allow any of it to make him bitter or lose hope in life.
Instead it motivated him to be better than his parents and to succeed in everything he does.
He attributes his internal peace and love of life to God and the help of the Holy Spirit.
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He served in the SAPS for 14 years.
“I loved my job so much it was almost as if I was married to the police force,” he explains, adding that, “In a month I used to make an average of 30 to 50 arrests.
“After over a decade in the police service he decided to retire from his position as a warrant officer and started his own security company.
“I saw a gap in the market and ever since I made the decision I have never looked back.
I’m glad I was at the height of my career when I retired,” he told Letaba Herald.
If he is not at work, he is with his princess at home playing games, helping her with school work or doing shopping together.
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On May 16, he had half of his right leg amputated after suffering from intense pain for a number of years.
Less than a week after the operation he was already driving his daughter to school.
“I have no time to feel sorry for myself.
I’m really glad the pain is gone now and I’m going ahead with my life,” he told Herald.
Leon faced a lot of challenges in life including a spinal cord tumour which led to him not being able to walk for a year and a second tumour which resulted in 13 medical procedures.
Some of the life principles he teaches his daughter is to always put God first, respect people, not gossip, forgive others and to say sorry when in the wrong.
His advice to fathers is, “get involved in your children’s lives, because kids just want affection and involvement from their dad,”he concluded.
