Pretoria, Gauteng — When Tinus Greyling lost control of his legs on the night of 10 August 2025, his life changed within hours. By the following morning, he had woken up completely paralysed from the chest down. Today, just months later, he is rebuilding his life — supported by a community that has rallied behind him in extraordinary fashion.
After extensive testing, Tinus was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a rare neurological condition in which inflammation of the spinal cord causes severe nerve damage. What began as flu a week earlier triggered an autoimmune response that attacked his spinal cord, leaving him paraplegic from the T5 level downward.
He lost abdominal muscle function, bladder and bowel control, and all motor and sensory function in his legs. Even coughing became physically demanding due to the loss of core strength.
From Crisis to Community Support
Following emergency treatment — including high-dose steroids, immunotherapy and plasma exchange — Tinus was transferred to a specialised spinal rehabilitation hospital. There, he spent six weeks relearning essential daily tasks: dressing himself, transferring safely into a wheelchair, and adapting to a new way of living.
Medical specialists later confirmed that the spinal cord damage was severe and likely permanent. With no further conventional treatment options available, Tinus and his family were faced with a future that looked very different from the one they had imagined.
But what followed was something few could have anticipated.
Eight days after launching the BackaBuddy campaign Holding Hope: A Journey After Transverse Myelitis, the community responded with overwhelming generosity. The campaign not only reached its R120,000 goal — it surpassed it, raising R146,973 from 87 donors.
Messages of encouragement poured in alongside donations. “Godspeed Tinus, you got this,” one supporter wrote. Another shared, “Hang in there buddy.” Friends, family and even international donors contributed, turning a moment of medical crisis into a powerful display of collective care.
Investing in Independence and Long-Term Hope
The funds raised will directly support Tinus’s essential and long-term needs, including:
- Stem cell therapy through the South African Stem Cell Institute
- Chronic medication and neuropathic pain management
- Daily catheter supplies not fully covered by medical aid
- Adaptive driving controls to restore independence
- Ongoing rehabilitation and long-term care
Tinus has already undergone a bone marrow harvest and cell preparation as part of his stem cell treatment plan — a step that offers cautious hope for functional improvement.
While medical aid covered the initial emergency response, many ongoing costs fall outside coverage. The funds raised ensure that Tinus and his family can focus on recovery and adaptation without the immediate pressure of financial uncertainty.
Relearning Life, Redefining Strength
Now back home in Pretoria, Tinus continues outpatient rehabilitation. He is mastering advanced wheelchair skills and preparing for adaptive driving modifications that will allow him to drive again and eventually return to work.
Though medical opinions suggest his paraplegia may be permanent, Tinus’s journey has become one of resilience rather than limitation.
The success of the campaign reflects more than financial support — it represents belief. Belief in dignity. Belief in possibility. Belief that no one should face life-altering medical challenges alone.
To read more about Tinus’s journey, visit:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/holding-hope-a-journey-after-transverse-myelitis
