GRATEFUL FOR EVERY BREATH
YOU South Africa|9 May 2024
A double lung transplant has given this chef a second chance at life - and he'll never forget the young man who made it possible
COLIN HENDRICKS PICTURES: ER LOMBARD
GRATEFUL FOR EVERY BREATH

AT THE age of 30 he can finally enjoy things other people take for granted – taking a full breath of air, enjoying a cool breeze without worrying about getting sick, being strong enough to put in a full day of work.

It’s strange to get cold and not worry about it, Andries van der Merwe says. “Before the lung transplant I had to put on a jacket immediately to avoid infection and disease. Now it’s nice. I can get cold, I can walk in the rain without it being a big deal.”

Andries was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was three years old and his lung capacity was just 17% when he received a new set of lungs in 2019.

“I’m 100% today,” he says.

His life is full to the brim. He recently started working as a sous chef at Guardian Peak restaurant near Stellenbosch and he’s embracing each new day – but he isn’t only doing so for himself, he says.

He’s also doing it in tribute to Storm Smorenburg, whose lungs he uses to inhale the fresh mountain air each new day.

Storm was 18 when he died in a tragic accident and his lungs were donated to give Andries the gift of life.

Andries’ mother, Anna-Mart, has since become close friends with Storm’s mom, Lisa. Anna-Mart wrote the book Silence Before Storm in 2021 about the two boys and their families’ journey.

As a result of the women’s unbreakable bond Andries has learnt a lot about the teenager.

“Storm rode his skateboard a lot, he was a lifeguard, he played first-team rugby and he liked daredevil-type stuff,” he says.

Esta historia es de la edición 9 May 2024 de YOU South Africa.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición 9 May 2024 de YOU South Africa.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE YOU SOUTH AFRICAVer todo
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 minutos  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ minutos  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 minutos  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 minutos  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024