Crash confines matric pupil to wheelchair – community assists

Doctors said she wouldn’t make it through the night after a head-on crash, but Monument matric pupil Stacey Farrell endured against all odds and is adamant to write her matric exams, even if not with her classmates.

Now she is smiling and optimistic about life, but just months ago Stacey had to live through the trauma of receiving treatment at three different hospitals after a collision between the car she was a passenger in and a bakkie had left her with two dislocated neck (cervical) vertebrae.

Her family was told that should she survive, she never would be able to walk again, however they believe that a strong support structure helped her to pull through.

Stacey’s mother Cathy says even though confined to a wheelchair, arrangements have been made for her daughter to write her final exam with a scribe in February 2014, and adds that it wouldn’t have been possible without support from family, school teachers and their church.

“We were told that physiotherapy had to be started right away after surgery and suddenly were confronted with a R256 000 rehabilitation bill.”

Assistance immediately started pouring in and first to help was Stacey’s class teacher Miss Esther Killian who started baking cupcakes at her own expense and launching fundraising events at her school.

Their local church, Christian Heritage Church under the guidance of Pastor Pat Godwin also raised funds in an effort to relieve the financial burden on the family.

Even though the bill has not been covered fully as yet, the Farrell family remains hopeful and says people like Esther, those who assisted with fundraising within their family and church members have restored their faith in humanity.