20-year-old Matayo van der Mescht is making a remarkable recovery after being attacked and stabbed 12 times in Barry Hertzog Park on November 11 while on his way home from work.
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His mother, Karin, said although he is in recovery and at home, he still has a lengthy battle ahead consisting of doctor visits as well as counselling to help him deal with and process the traumatic experience he has had to endure.
“Matayo still struggles with shortness of breath if he walks around too much. We also discovered that he had a wound inside his ear but we need to see an ENT specialist first to determine how severe or minor the wound inside his ear is,” she explained.
Following the attack, the van der Mescht family turned to the community for assistance as Matayo’s medical bills kept piling up.
To her surprise, the community jumped to their aid and assisted them not only financially but also by forming prayer groups; praying that the young man makes a full recovery.
“I thank every single person who helped us in any way, shape, or form from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for every monetary donation, every message, and every prayer; it has meant so much to us.”
When asked how the aftermath of the attack has impacted her family, Karin stated that it has made them extremely paranoid and even more vigilant and wary of their surroundings than ever before.
“We get home from work, and immediately we lock ourselves up in our house because we just do not feel safe anymore. My children are no longer allowed to walk anywhere, whether to school, work, or back home; they have to wait for either myself or my husband to fetch them. This has taken a major toll on us, and even though I know Matayo should get back to ‘normal’, I just cannot take that chance yet,” she told the Advertiser.
According to Karin, Matayo is hopeful that he will be able to do everything he can before the attack, which includes his goal of pursuing a career in underwater welding in the Netherlands next year.
“The doctor said that Matayo should be able to return to the gym in the next two to three months, where he will work on strengthening his lungs again so that he can do what he hopes to do in the future,” she concluded.
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