South Africans were inspired by Kelvin van Baalen’s incredible recovery. This week on “Good Things with Brent Lindeque”, his mom, Leigh van Baalen, shares what those 413 days looked like from the other side.
Johannesburg, South Africa (24 June 2026) – Earlier this year, we sat down with Kelvin van Baalen to hear the remarkable story of how he survived a devastating paragliding accident, spent 413 days in ICU, underwent 27 surgeries, was resuscitated nine times and faced a R21 million medical bill before rebuilding his life against all odds.
This week, we tell the other side of that story.
On Good Things with Brent Lindeque, we chat to Kelvin’s mom, Leigh van Baalen, about what it was really like standing beside her son through those 413 days and every difficult step that came after. While Kelvin’s journey inspired thousands of South Africans, Leigh offers a perspective few people ever get to hear: that of a mother navigating fear, uncertainty, hope and the determination to keep going when there is no roadmap ahead.
“You know how you do it? You get up every morning, you put one step in front of the other, you take a deep breath… and you do what you need to do, regardless of what the outcome is going to be. You keep moving.”
What emerged from those years was more than survival. Leigh went on to found the 413 Movement, inspired by the exact number of days Kelvin spent in a burns unit. The organisation is built around the lessons and hard-earned wisdom discovered during one of the most challenging chapters any family could face.
We also chat about Leigh’s newly launched book, Survival to Sovereignty, a deeply personal memoir that explores the journey through trauma, healing and everything in between.
Leigh spent three decades navigating corporate South Africa across industries ranging from telecommunications and retail to mining and technology transformation. Yet nothing prepared her for the role she would have to play when her son’s life changed forever. The honesty she brings to this conversation is what makes it so compelling, offering insight, perspective and hope for anyone facing their own difficult season.
Watch or listen to the full episode below:
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