16-year-old Shelton Ferreira got his first major rugby injury during his very first 1st team game; his mom made sure he got the surgery he needed even though it meant taking out a big loan.
Johannesburg, South Africa (19 May 2021) – 16-year-old Shelton Ferreira’s rugby career has been much like his feet on the pitch – quick! He ventured into rugby in Grade 7 for the first time, made the A-team and fell in love with the game.
Although he is English, he decided to go to an Afrikaans High School – because of rugby. Shelton immediately made waves as a lightning-fast wing and, as a 16-year-old, was chosen for his school’s first team this year – a dream come true.
On Saturday, 8 May, Shelton ran out for his school’s first team for the first time – the smallest and youngest in the team. He scored a try and tackled the big guys. Unfortunately, during a tackle, his jaw connected with another player’s forehead… only after the game did he and his mom realise that there was something wrong.
Doctors confirmed that his jaw was cracked, and he urgently needed surgery to insert a plate and screws. Single-mom Louise only has basic medical insurance, and they usually go to the State Hospital for medical treatment. However, this procedure was urgently needed, and Louise did not have the R40 000 to pay for it.
To make sure her son got the surgery he needed, Louise started a crowdfund on BackaBuddy and, while waiting to raise funds, took out a loan to cover the immediate cost. Her hope was that crowdfunding would help her repay the loan.
Meanwhile, Shelton is on the mend but will be out of rugby for a few weeks … and he cannot wait to get back on the field for his next try and tackle!
The story reached the Jacaranda Good Morning Angels via the rugby coach and concerned parents. The Good Morning Angels promptly reached out to assist the family.
They offered to assist with the loan, paying over a whopping R35,000. Take a look at their reactions below.
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