A mother’s unwavering hope and the incredible generosity of kind strangers have brought a ray of sunshine into the life of Damien Groenewald, a man whose life was tragically altered by a car accident in 2002.
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (29 January 2025) – Hope has been restored; a mother’s desperate prayers have been answered, and the dignity of a son whose life was drastically altered has been affirmed.
A 54-year-old single mother, Karen Withers, was left heartbroken and in despair after her son, Damien Groenewald, was the victim of a tragic car accident in November 2002 that left him in a coma for several weeks, with life-altering injuries at just 15 years old.
Now 37, Damien is completely dependent on medical care, bedridden, and manages daily with significant challenges due to cerebral palsy and recurrent chest infections.
Since the accident, Damien has also required constant medical attention, including multiple surgeries to mend his severely damaged leg, outfitted with a 38cm pin and various plates.
Overcome with the insurmountable challenges of being her son’s sole care provider, facing constant medical expenses and the heartbreak of seeing her son’s world changed irreversibly, Karen’s own life has been deeply impacted, consumed by stress and the weight of her responsibilities.
But her cries and pleas have not fallen on deaf ears. After creating a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy 15 days ago, Karen has managed to not only reach her fundraising target of R30,000 but also exceed it, sitting at R31,800 to date! This real-life miracle for this family hasn’t only moved Karen to tears but greatly renewed her hope.
Thanks to the compassion and generosity of South Africans touched by their story, Karen and Damien now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing they can move forward from a place when things seemed completely bleak.
South Africa, you’ve done it again! Your selfless acts of kindness and compassion have brought hope to a truly deserving family.
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