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Man discharged from hospital after brick-throwing attack

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JC and Claudia Roos. (Photo: Supplied)
JC and Claudia Roos. (Photo: Supplied)

It’s been less than a month since JC Roos (26), from Rustenburg in North West, was hit in the head by a concrete brick thrown through his bakkie’s windscreen, and he’s now been discharged from hospital.

Thus far, her husband’s recovery has been nothing short of a miracle, Claudia Roos (24) told YOU this week.

Since he woke from his coma last Tuesday in the high-care unit of Netcare Milpark hospital in Johannesburg, he’s made a rapid recovery. By last Sunday, he could get out of bed and walk to the hospital coffee shop with his wife where they met with friends. He was discharged this past Wednesday (16 October).

“Ever since JC opened his eyes that day and woke up, God has been so good to us. I’m surprised by his remarkable progress every day. The same day [he woke up], the ventilator was removed. And then he started walking again . . . Ever since that day, he’s been wanting to go home, go back to work, see his friends,” Claudia says.

Claudia and their daughter, Alliana (14 months), had been travelling with JC when an unidentified man threw a concrete block onto their vehicle from a bridge. It happened on 20 September while the family were travelling on the R566 near Rustenburg. The man then tried to rob them.

Claudia and Alliana weren’t injured but JC’s face was badly damaged. His jaw was broken and nearly all his teeth were knocked out. He’s since had three surgeries to repair his jaw and cheekbones.

The family had been on their way to visit Claudia’s mother in the Free State.

“This type of thing really wakes you up. It makes you realise you need to live each day as if it’s your last. I know it’s a cliché, but that’s how I’m living my life now.

“The past month’s events have just been overwhelming. My brother took a video of the helicopter taking JC to hospital and I’m watching it over and over. To think how seriously JC was injured and that our daughter and I walked away from that wreck unharmed.”

Claudia has reached out on Facebook to thank everyone for their support. She’s especially grateful to her brother, Henry Vorster (34), who drove to the scene in the middle of the night from Krugersdorp to help them.

JC will be staying with Henry and his family for now to be near the hospital for his follow-up check-ups. He’ll be going home to Rustenburg on Friday.

“I know our little girl is going to be ecstatic to have her daddy back home. I know that little face is going to be beaming,” Claudia says.

About the attacker who still hasn’t been identified, she just wonders how anyone could have so much hate in their hearts.

“But I’m still full of joy. I still have faith. During the week, I spoke to someone who’s not faithful who asked me why all these things are happening in our country? But I think God’s telling us to have faith – He won’t come until everyone believes.”

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