Moot teen gets her matric certificate despite unimaginable circumstances

Former Hoërskool Die Wonderboom matriculant Naulené Oosthuizen (18) had to catch up on a term’s work in a matter of a month after she was in a car accident that claimed her brother’s life.

Now she wants to inspire other young people not to use their circumstances as an excuse when it comes to living out their dreams.

Oosthuizen’s life changed in the blink of an eye when she lost her brother in a serious car accident when they were involved in a collision with a BMW on the Moloto Road on October 11, 2020.

Her brother, Ruan was declared dead on the scene.

Oosthuizen missed the first few months of her matric year, but she was determined to get her certificate.

“The first few months I had questions like ‘why Ruan and not me?’; ‘Why did I survive and not my brother?’

“I now realise it was his time. My mum says, since the accident, my brother had been too smart for the world.

“Ruan was busy with his engineering degree. He has always come up with new initiatives.”

Her parents and a counsellor were sitting next to her hospital bed a few days after the accident. Her father burst into tears and could not get a word out. Then came the news that her brother had not made it.

“I could not even attend his funeral with the fact that I was in the hospital.”

Her scars are a story to tell and therefore she is not ashamed to share the story of her once-broken heart.

“The accident happened just after 15:00 when we suddenly heard a loud bang from behind the vehicle.

“When I woke up, I realised we were in an accident. All I can remember is that I screamed for help. My brother was lying in my lap.”

ALSO READ: Young Bulls lock believes tight five must step up a gear to beat Sharks

At first, she thought he was just unconscious.

“The steering wheel broke Ruan’s chest and his skull burst completely open.

“I was rushed to Steve Biko Academic hospital where I had to undergo emergency surgery.

“I had swelling on the brain, my ribs, as well as my spine, were broken.

“According to the doctors, it is a miracle that I was not paralysed.”

She broke her right leg in two places and her intestine also burst, as a result of the accident.

Since then, she has had to walk around with a stoma bag (Colostomy).

Oosthuizen is on a waiting list to undergo surgery to attach her intestinal tract.

“I was in the intensive care unit for about three weeks.”

ALSO READ: Local visually impaired ward councillor to compete in Midmar Mile in aid of hospice

She has always planned to study radiography after finishing her school career and play netball for the University of Pretoria’s netball team.

“Netball was my everything. I was selected in my grade 11 year for my school’s first team. Now I can no longer play sports.

“As time went on, I realised that God has a different path for me.

“The first day I returned to school, the preliminary examination kicked off. I came out stronger on the other side, but I have to admit there are days I miss him (Ruan) terribly. He was my best friend, but as I tell my story, my wounds heal.”

A photo of Ruan hangs in the entrance of their home where the family lights a candle in his memory every Sunday.

“As the saying goes: ‘only time will tell’.

“I face daily challenges to stay busy. I would like to study nursing, but because the hospital can’t give me a date for when my surgery will take place, I can’t plan my future as yet.

“I have overcome many challenges and I firmly believe that I can be an inspiration to other young people to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

sl/jo

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram