From Holland with love

Krantenartikel: The Zululand Observer, 25 februari 2011

Dutch couple, Henk en Rijkje       'Jorijke' Koelewijn, returned to Zululand on Sunday to say thank you to all those who saved their lives. The couple spent six weeks in the Life Empangeni Garden Clinic following a horrific car accident in 2009 in which both were seriously injured.
"The reunion was an incredibly emotional moment,' said Leanne Nyiri, Regional Marketing Manager for Life Healthcare.
Dr. Sailesh Ragoo, Orthopaedic Surgeon at the hospital, said: 'It is always good to see patients who were so badly injured pull through the way they did.' 'And after so long, you realise by the fact that so many staff remember them, just what an impact they had on the hospital.'

Coming home
Henk says South Africa changed their lives forever. 'Coming back to Empangeni is like coming home.' 'The last time we were here, the circumstances were very difficult, but this time, we have an opportunity to say thank you to all the people who helped us.
'If we had not come to this hospital, my wife would have died.' Jorijke, once more a vivacious young woman, underwent no less than 15 surgeries during her stay at the Clinic. 'I am very happy to be back. Last time I was very sick, but now I am full of energy, and every day goes better.'

Filming is a miracle
Part of the reason the couple is back in South Africa is to film their incredibly story as part of the Dutch local television programme 'The Change'.
'When we were contacted about the programme, we said yes, but only if they film in South Africa,' says Henk. 'We were going to come back anyway, to heal. When we were here last time, we made so many friends. The community just came to help us with whatever they could, and we want to tell the world about it.'