A soccer ball, friends to play with and the freedom to run. These everyday moments can mean everything after a life-threatening illness. For Hlelo, returning to the soccer field marked a precious second chance at childhood.
Growing up in Brown’s Farm in Philippi, Hlelo loved playing soccer with his friends. But in 2022, his life changed suddenly when he experienced heart failure. He told his mother that he felt a burning sensation in his chest. Within days, he was in hospital, dependent on machines to keep him alive.
At the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Hlelo received the specialist care he urgently needed. A heart transplant became the turning point in his journey, giving him the opportunity to recover and return to the activities he loved.
His care brought him through the Hospital’s emergency centre, intensive care unit and theatre complex—facilities supported through the generosity of Children’s Hospital Trust donors.
Two years later, the Trust’s film captured a remarkable change: Hlelo was back on the soccer field.
The images bring that journey into focus. We see Hlelo in a hospital bed, surrounded by medical equipment, with his mother nearby. Later, we see him outside, balancing a soccer ball and sharing moments with her at home. These scenes show what recovery can mean beyond the hospital doors: the chance to play, spend time with family and enjoy being a child.
For the Children’s Hospital Trust, this is the purpose behind every project we support. By funding healthcare facilities, equipment and training, we help give healthcare professionals the resources they need to care for children and support their recovery.
Hlelo’s story reminds us of the people behind that work: a child with a future ahead of him, a mother by his side, dedicated healthcare teams and a community of supporters helping make better care possible.
Help more children have the chance to play, grow and dream. Donate to the Children’s Hospital Trust and support projects that change children’s lives.
