Alberton man’s life turned upside down by diabetes, family calls for help

At 53, Jan Hendrik Janse van Vuuren should have been living his best years-running his business, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family, but instead, he’s fighting daily battles with pain, loss, and an unforgiving illness.

A long-time resident of Raceview, Alberton, Jan was once a respected self-employed contractor and qualified boilermaker.

He was a man of the adventurer who thrived in nature, hiking, and fishing. Many admired him for his fearless spirit and hardworking nature. But in 2020, everything changed.

 The first signs of trouble

“He started getting tired a lot. We took him for a check-up and was told they suspect he had diabetes; nothing concerning or major,” recalls his wife, Hannalie Reed.

At the time, the family had no real understanding of diabetes or how dangerous it could be.  But as the months went on, Jan’s condition worsened. He began falling asleep while driving.

Doctors diagnosed him with Type 2 Diabetes and was put on medication to help control his sugar levels.

A small wound that changed everything

In October 2020, Jan took a trip to Secunda in Mpumalanga. When he returned, he mentioned that he wasn’t feeling well and was running a fever.

What seemed like a minor wound on his right foot within four days spiralled into a medical emergency. Due to his diabetes, Jan developed gas gangrene in his right foot.

“Within hours, the infection spread and his leg was amputated below the knee at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg during the height of COVID-19,” said Reed.

Even then, the nightmare wasn’t over.

The infection flared up again while he was in the hospital, forcing doctors to perform more debridement procedures to save his life.

After three months in the hospital, having blood transfusions, angiograms, and more Jan was discharged, but his struggles had only just begun.

The hospital sent him home with an open wound, and because the family couldn’t afford homecare services, they had to clean and dress the wound themselves every single day.

“Arriving home we could not fit his wheelchair through the front door.  The door frames was too small and not designed for a now wheelchair bound person,” Reed said.

A fighter against all odds

Despite the trauma, Janse van Vuuren refused to give up.

“Against all odds, he continued to run his business, hiring a driver to get him to job sites. He had no choice; he had to survive,” Reed explained.

But survival came at a cost. His independence was gone, and within a week of coming home, he realised just how much his life had changed.

Then, in 2021, ulcers started developing on his left foot.

The condition worsened over time, and by 2024, the ulcers had spread to his entire lower leg and foot.

“For three years, he endured constant pain and as his condition worsened he had to give up the things he loved, including outdoor activities and his independence,” Reed shared.

“His struggle led to depression and isolation, as he felt increasingly like a burden to others.”

A life-altering emergency

Jan’s condition became critical on October last year. His body went into septic shock.  He was rushed to Germiston Hospital by ambulance where the doctors fought to stabilise him.

He was later transferred to Johannesburg General Hospital for specialised care.

“They were considering amputation of the left leg but managed to save it,” Reed said.

He was discharged and sent home on October 31. Since losing his leg, Jan’s life has been filled with daily challenges.

The biggest obstacle used to be his wheelchair until donations from kind hearted people helped the family get a new one.

The family now faces an uphill battle.

The house door frame openings are not wide enough and not designed to enable a disabled wheelchair bound person to move around freely in the house.

“Jan constantly bumps and scratches the doors and walls often pinching his hands.

“Our second challenge is that our bathroom only has a bathtub. We do not have a shower,” Reed shared.

“Because of Jan’s size and weight, it is impossible for me to lift him in and out of the bath.

“The bathroom is very small, and it is impossible to move around Jan whilst he is in the bathroom with his wheelchair.”

A man forgotten

According to his partner, Jan didn’t just lose his independence; he also lost friends.

“People he knew just stopped calling and visiting. Nobody checks up on him,” she said.

Once admired and respected, Jan now spends his days in isolation, feeling like a burden to those around him.

His partner works fulltime at a company that agreed to allow her to mostly from home considering the circumstances.

When she must go into the office for meetings, he’s left alone in the house.

“We simply cannot afford to hire a helper or caregiver to take care of Jan”, Reed said.

“It’s a stark contrast to the man he once was.  The man who thrived in the great outdoors, who built his own business from the ground up, who never backed down from a challenge.”

A call for help

The family desperately needs funds to widen the doors so Jan can move freely with his wheelchair and to add a shower suitable for a disabled person.

Second-hand donations in terms of grab rails, tiles, plumbing, cement, bricks, etc, are welcome and any support no matter how small would be appreciated.

Looking back

Looking back, Reed wishes they had a better understanding of the effects and life changing consequences of uncontrolled sugar.

“Everything Jan had worked so hard for is slipping away. We’re selling whatever we can, trying to keep up with day-to-day expenses, medication and wound care items,” explained Reed.

For now, Jan and his family take things one day at a time.

He might have lost his leg, his business, and even his friends but his spirit, though tested, refuses to break.

with the right support, perhaps Jan can find a way to regain some of what he had lost.

People interested in helping the family in any way can contact Reed at 0790415857 or hannalie.reed@gmail.com.

Money donations can be made via the BackaBuddy campaign.