Page 6 - MIND YOUR ASSET

ANTHONY KAIRUZ

INTRODUCTION: MY STORY

“He was a born leader, the Head Boy of Potchefstroom High School for Boys, excelling at both
academics and sports and boasted a list of Scholarships and awards. Then in the year 2000, a freak
motorbike accident left him paralyzed from the neck down.”

June 17th, 2000…
An icy winter’s day in South Africa, on a Game farm in the Magaliesburg…

The last bike ride of the day became life's toughest journey!

On top of the mountain range through the thick grass, riding motorbikes with a few good friends, I
struck a rock. The unthinkable happened.

I flew over the handlebars and landed on the back of my head (with my entire body weight
impacting) and breaking my neck.

I tried with every ounce of strength in my body to get up. I could not move. The most excruciating
pain hit me in my trapezius muscles.

Overwhelming panic gave rise to consuming fear. Fear of the unknown…

The helicopter - airlift over the mountain range… Cardiac arrest in the helicopter… The race to
reach the hospital…

After the first week in trauma ICU, I slowly started to regain consciousness, only to be
welcomed...
by the complete loss of movement, sensation, and control.

A dozen tubes were connected to my body. I was being fed intravenously. A ventilator magnified
the deep struggle for survival. I had to trust in the Supernatural as I gasped for each breath. I
wanted to scream out for help…
only to find out I had no voice.

Whilst fighting for my life, I was battling with accepting the death of my Father, and the fact that
he was not there for me. My heart was with my Mother and older Sister, both who never left my
side. The thought of leaving them as well as my angelic younger Down Syndrome sister, helped me
not to give-up.

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