GQEBERHA – Following a serious rugby injury during a match against Hoërskool Outeniqua in George on 18 April, Matthew Els, a learner at Pearson High School in Gqeberha, is finally home with his family.
According to George News, Matthew sustained multiple skull, jaw and facial fractures during the match.
Thankfully, the major surgery which took place on 21 April to reconstruct his eye sockets, nasal cavity and other skull fractures was a success.
Further elaborating on the “freak accident”, George News reported that Matthew and his teammate and lifelong friend, Dewald Niemand (18), went in for the same tackle, and Dewald’s head struck Matthew’s face with force.
He was initially treated at George Mediclinic and was later transferred to St George’s Hospital in Gqeberha.
Thanks to generous donations through a BackaBuddy campaign, over R30,000 was raised to pay for a private ambulance to transport Matthew from George to Gqeberha for further treatment.
Finally, nearly a week later, Matthew is back home with his family.
On 24 April, in a Facebook post, his mother, Anita, announced that her son was home.
Referring to Matthew as their “miracle baby”, she said that they had been fortunate enough to experience yet another miracle with their young, brave boy’s recovery.
“A severe head injury that could have had devastating consequences, yet he is walking, talking and has full cognitive function,” said Anita.
“One would never believe this beautiful face is the same damaged and broken face we saw on Saturday (18 April).”
While Anita said that she was thankful for the doctors’ incredible skill, she believed that the outcome of Matthew’s injury was beyond human ability.
She further thanked the medical staff, all those who supported Matthew and their family and what she described as “mind-blowing generosity” from strangers towards his treatment and recovery.
“Matthew is a walking miracle and has his whole life still ahead of him. It may look a little different, but we are confident that God will use this for His glory,” said Anita.
“There are simply no adequate words to express our appreciation and gratitude. We are humbled, strengthened and forever thankful. The journey is certainly not over, but an army of angels has Matthew, of that I’m sure.”
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