GMA Festive Edition (Luday vd Merwe)

Request from:

Judy Langman 

 

Request for:

Luday van der Merwe and Jenny Wallis 

Angel:

Doug Mattheus, Cell-C Head of Marketing, our Epic Good Morning Angels Festive Edition Sponsor

 

Sponsoring:

Cell-C will donate R20 000 to Luday's Fund, so that he can buy his new mattress and other necessities 

 

Background:

REAL LIFE TEENAGE HERO, Luday van der Merwe is turning 18 in January. He is still a positive upbeat young man and has adapted as well as can be expected to his new life in a wheelchair. Luday was 16 years old when his heroic act made headlines: he jumped in front of his girlfriend during an armed robbery and saved her life. However, in the process he was left paralyzed. Less than a year before this happened, Luday lost his single mom to breast cancer and he was living with his gran, Jenny. He still does ... and together they face what life throws at them — with pride, positivity and love. Their life is a struggle, but they do it together. When we asked Luday why he took the bullet for his girlfriend at the risk of loosing his own life, he replied: "Because that's how my mom taught me." Our Festive Edition Sponsors, Cell-C decided to assist this dynamic duo on their Epic journey ... 

YOU CAN HELP:

Luday van der Merwe Trust 
FNB Zambesi-tak 
Rekeningnommer: 62392512375 
Takkode: 230145 
Verwysing: Luday vd Merwe

 

Original request:

Good morning,  

I am a big fan of Good Morning Angles. I am writing on behalf a family who desperately needs your help! 
Luday van der Merwe (16) & Jenny Wallis(61). 

They currently live in a small 2 bedroom house that does not belong to them.  They are by far two of the strongest and most positive people I have met! 

"Heroic teen Luday van der Merwe who took the bullet and saved a friend from gunmen, is paralysed for life from his upper-body on down, Luday survived the incident, but will never walk again. Confided to a wheelchair he now has to endure physical therapy! Because of his condition, the small two bedroom home the family lives in no longer accommodates his needs. The family need a wheelchair accessible home. 

When tragedy initially struck it was Jenny(61) Luday’s granny who became his care giver, 10 months prior to the tragedy Luday’s mother passed away from breast cancer leaving Luday orphaned.  Luday is growing up and getting too heavy for Jenny to lift or to carry.  She receives a small pension, but this is not nearly enough to get through the month, they struggle to make ends meet! Jenny is totally focused on helping her grandson, she is a remarkable lady with a strong faith, she does not complain about her situation and faces challenges as they come; unfortunately she has had to face too many.  They are grateful for everything that they have, but I would just love to see them in a more comfortable surrounding and to know that Luday can be more in-dependant.
Luday is such a smart, sweet & kind child, it has been hard but yet he is still smiling and full of life and he is a really go getter determine to walk again one day please GOD! "

Luday has developed massive sores on both sides of his hips, he can only sleep on his sides and his mattress if not of the best quality(he has sheep skin and foam that was donated from the hospice) but this is still not helping him, Jenny has to move him every 4 hours during the night!

Luday is currently very ill and had to visit the doctors again yesterday, he has a terrible bladder infection & they detected blood in his urine, he received medication to clear up the infection. 

Luday’s Aunty has booked buss tickets for him and his Granny to visit her in Durban over the holiday’s! This would be Luday’s first holiday in a very long time! As you can imagine he is  so excited  about the trip he mentioned to his granny “how ironic it was going to be that he would not be able to swim or  even just feel the waves breaking over his feet”.     

It breaks my heart to know that this boy once had a normal life and now he is restricted to the basic thing in life. My request is for Luday’s needs at home that will help him and not hold him back!!

Please consider him and his granny, this family needs your help!
Judy Langman