Johannesburg - Chester van Zyl wants to make sure no child ever gets bullied again because of a health condition such as his.
With the help of his mother, Chester is in the process of registering a non-profit foundation to assist people suffering from eye conditions.
The Eldorado Park 17-year-old has spent most of the past two years at home, hindered by the degenerative eye disease keratoconus, which left him with only 20 percent vision in his right eye and 60 percent in the left.
His bad sight meant he steadily fell behind his peers, was bullied and became increasingly frustrated until his mother, Rene Russell, decided to pull him out of school.
But in November last year, his life changed.
Through the kind-heartedness of an ophthalmologist, the donation of a cornea by the Gauteng cornea and eye bank and generous donations from The Star’s readers, he underwent a cornea transplant on his right eye.
In January, he started his first day at The Gateway School for children with special educational needs.
Chester explained the motivation behind launching the Painting Chester's Perfect Vision Foundation, saying “growing up there was a period when I had to wear broken glasses because my mother didn't have money to get me a new pair”.
“That was a very sad time in my life because my peers, some of my family and friends, even a teacher, made fun of me and bullied me.
“I would never want someone else to go through that bad experience,” he said.
His mother added: “Be-cause Chester was blessed in this way, he wants to bless others who have similar conditions to his and need urgent medical funding.”
Though Chester has to focus his attention on school, his mom has already identified, on his behalf, two pupils and one adult in Eldorado Park who are in need of urgent medical assistance.
“Ever since Chester's story was in the newspaper, a lot of people have come to us for help,” she said.
Russell said her son's life had changed dramatically for the better since the transplant and his return to school.
“Chester is very positive, very happy. He just wants to do positive things.”
This included putting together toiletry packs for men and women living in the townships.
He's also now able to see colours with his right eye, which he couldn't before.
He has started swimming, soccer and woodwork at school, but his first love is still music.
Chester said: “I love drums, I love music. I'm just praying and asking God for a drum set.”
Chester and his mom again thanked The Star’s generous readers, whose funds had been used to buy new spectacles and other items.
The Star