Chanell a pillar of strength

VANDERBIJLPARK – Chanell Meijer has become a symbol of strength, perseverance and inspiration.

Born and raised in the Vaal Triangle, Chanell’s journey from a promising young athlete to a beacon of hope for many is nothing short of remarkable.

As a proud alumna of Pinedene Primary and Sasolburg High School, she later earned a tennis scholarship to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the United States.

After her return she dedicated herself to teaching Mathematics and Accounting at Sasolburg High School.

Her life took a dramatic turn on December 19, 2014 when a horrific accident while cycling nearly cost her life. It happened on her father’s 60th birthday.

A day that should have been filled with celebration turned into uncertainty and despair. “I stopped, and I assumed the truck would stop too,” she recalls. But that assumption changed everything. Chanell spent nearly 90 days in a coma, fighting for her life.

When she emerged, the road ahead was daunting, filled with endless rehabilitation and a complete reevaluation of her goals and dreams. But Chanell wasn’t about to let her circumstances define her. “I had so much athletic potential, but now I have a different kind of potential,” she says, reflecting on her journey.

Today, she channels her energy into new pursuits. As a rep for EcoRun Recycling and HN Trading, she combines her business acumen with her passion for environmental sustainability and innovative products.

While she has traded her tennis racquet for a paddle, taking up the fast-paced sport of paddle tennis, she remains connected to her roots by coaching and umpiring field hockey.

“I miss the intensity of competing, but I’ve found new ways to stay active,” she says. Chanell’s love for exercise is as strong as ever, even though her days of ultra-marathons and triathlons are behind her.

She completed the gruelling Full Ironman and the Comrades Marathon alongside her father. Accomplishments that will always hold a special place in her heart.

“My love for exercise hasn’t changed, my ability to extreme endurance activities has.” Throughout her recovery, she received immense support from her family.

“I can’t single out one person. They all played crucial roles in helping me navigate this new life,” she says gratefully. Her mother, father, and brother, Shaun, stood by her side through thick and thin, providing financial, emotional, and practical support.

Ten years have passed since that fateful day and Chanell views each one as a gift. “I’ve received 10 years of grace so far, and my life didn’t turn out the way I had planned. God has a very different plan for me and my life,” she reflects.

Her faith has deepened and she approaches life with a newfound clarity and gratitude. Despite the challenges, Chanell is anything but bitter. “It could have happened to anybody, so why did it have to happen to me?” she asks.

“I still have moments when I feel sad and sorry for myself, but then I have to remind myself that I have a lot to be grateful and thankful for.” She may not have a traditional bucket list, but she lives with an ethos of embracing opportunities.

“If I want to do something, can afford it, and really need it, I tend to do it. I learned the hard way not to wait.” As Chanell celebrates a decade of survival and grace, she continues to be a source of strength and inspiration for everyone around her.

Her journey reminds us that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope, resilience, and the potential to f ind new meaning in life.