Shadrack Kuchale was left paralysed from the shoulders down after being shot by an armed robber; his community rallied to support him, and now he is speaking to say thank you.
Johannesburg, South Africa (30 May 2022) – Shadrack Kuchale’s entire life changed on the 1st of September 2021 when he was robbed at gunpoint and shot. His devastating story was brightened when his community rallied to raise the funds he needed to recover.
The Angel Network aimed to raise funds for his recovery and life going forward. They managed to raise R200,000 in the first four days to support the father of two.
Shadrack was on his way to work, walking from home at around 5 am when he was stopped by a gunman who demanded his phone. During the assault, the gunman shot him in the neck and then dragged him to the ATM, where he was forced to enter his pin. The armed robber withdrew the entire contents of Shadrack’s bank account and left him on the ground to bleed out.
When Shadrack was found, he was rushed to the local government hospital, where after emergency triage, he waited for a bed for a harrowing 12 hours. The bullet had travelled through his spinal cord and down into his lung, causing an enormous amount of damage.
Initially, Shadrack was diagnosed as paraplegic, but the Angel Network managed to arrange a second opinion from a specialist. Sadly, after the CT scan, it was confirmed that he had quadriplegia, paralysed from the shoulders down.
Realising what that would mean for the rest of Shadrack’s life, the team at the Angel Network crowdfunded money to take care of the costs for trauma counselling, physical therapy, a specialised wheelchair, rent, home improvements, food, school fees, nappies, medication etc.
They managed to raise R350,000, which has been used to help Shadrack transition into his new life. There have been many organisations, individuals and sponsors that have contributed to Shadrack’s recovery so far. He has been blown away by the generosity shown to him and his family.
“I want nothing more than to provide for my family, find a job that gives me purpose and meaning in this life, a hobby that can give me peace of mind and keep my mind occupied. Most of all, I want to continue being the hero I have always been in my home, and get back some of the dignity that I didn’t lose, but was taken from me”
“I would never have imagined that so many people would open their hearts for me in my time of need, and carry me on their shoulders during my darkest moments. Without the donors, I don’t know how I would have made it to this point. ‘Thank you’ will never be enough”
The Angel Network has set a new target to raise a further R150,000, which will be used to continue Shadrack’s recovery and start covering the bills that would have been covered when he was working full-time.
For those wanting to support Shadrack’s well-being on a monthly basis, his needs are as follows:
- Rent R5500
- Food R3000
- Transport kids R1300
- Transport to hospital R800
- Transport to Church R1000
- Water R700
- Lights R800
- Caregiver R2000
The Angel Network will continue to manage the funds raised. If you would like to support his crowdfunding, you can do so here.
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