WATCH: Young champion receives life-changing gift
Eight-year-old Nicklaas van Heerden receives prosthetic leg to pursue his athletic dreams.
Nicklaas van Heerden, a bright and ambitious eight-year-old, has captured the hearts of many with his inspiring story.
This young champ from Laerskool Florida participated in an athletics race using his crutches and managed to cross the finish line with a beaming smile.
Born prematurely on April 12, 2016, Nicklaas’ life got off to a challenging start. He was seven months old, weighing just one kilogram, and he required medical support to aid his growth.
“He was very tiny when he was born,” recalled his mom, Heidi Blumenthal.
“He was three days old when he was put on machines to help with his growth, but unfortunately, a medical error occurred when doctors put a needle in the wrong vein, leading to his leg being amputated on April 24 of the same year.”
@caxton.jhbwest Nicklaas van Heerden has one leg but still takes part in athletics, what a champ!. He will soon receive his prosthetic leg from the Jumping kids non- profit organisation. #LaerskoolFlorida #Athletics #CaxtonLocalMedia #oneleggedrunner #schoolathletics
“We stayed in the hospital for four months, but our spirit remained unbroken, and we always knew that his future would be bright,” she said.
With the love and support of his family, Nicklaas grew into a happy, energetic and adventurous child. He learned to crawl, ride a bike, and even climb trees, refusing to let his physical limitations hold him back.
“We were very excited when he started school, but at the same time we were nervous about how other kids were going to interact with him. He started running when he was in Grade One, and it is something he enjoys doing. He also aspires to be a rugby player one day,” said his father, Jaco Blumenthal.
On Friday, January 24, Nicklaas received a life-changing surprise from the Crusaders Motorcycle Club and the Jumping Kids non-profit organisation.
He was presented with a prosthetic leg, which will be delivered in two weeks’ time. This incredible gift will enable Nicklaas to pursue his dreams without limitations.
But that’s not all – he will also receive full payment of his school fees until he’s 18 and a new prosthetic leg every time he outgrows the old one.
John Meyer, a member of the Crusaders and an amputee himself, said he was deeply touched by Nicklaas’s story after seeing him run with his crutches on TikTok.
“Getting a prosthetic leg can be quite expensive. It ranges from R200 000 to R600 000, excluding maintenance, treatment, etc. Jumping Kids is a non-profit organisation that gives amputee kids quality of life until they leave school. They support them in academics and in sports as well. This opportunity will enable him to take part in disabled athletics events and give him an opportunity to achieve his dreams” he said.
Heidi said they’ve recently moved to Gauteng not knowing that this move would change their son’s life.
“We are very excited and thankful to all the people that made this possible for our son. We were doubting this move , however, God has proved that anything is possible through him,” she concluded.
