FROM COMA TO CODE: Marchall’s Comeback Sparks Hope in Witzenberg
In Bella Vista, a quiet revolution is taking place, one that proves how resilience, community, and opportunity can rewrite a life story.
Marchall Fredericks, 37, had dreams of studying IT after matriculating from Bella Vista High in 2007.
But life had other plans.
In 2017, he was diagnosed with CLIPPERS, a rare neurological condition that left him paralysed after two months in ICU and two cardiac arrests. His recovery was slow, painful, miraculous! “I don’t know where it came from,” Marchall says of his determination. “When I came out of the coma, I was paralysed too”. With blurred vision and limited mobility, Marchall fought his way back step by step. But his dream of studying remained just out of reach.
That changed when he walked into the Witzenberg APD office.
Months later, a partnership with Perdekraal Windfarm opened a door: a full bursary to study IT at Boston College, and Marchall was the perfect candidate.
“I’m very thankful for the bursary. I will do my best to succeed and I’m also thankful to the Lord for affording me this opportunity.”
Today, Marchall is thriving – studying, raising his teenage son, and staying active in the APD community.
His journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when inclusion meets investment. This isn’t just Marchall’s win; it’s a win for inclusive development. It’s what happens when organisations like WCAPD, its branches, and partners like Perdekraal Windfarm believe in human potential.
To learn more about Witzenberg APD’s services, email admin@witzenbergapd.org.za.
