Handball talent John struggles after accident: family needs support!

Handball talent John struggles after accident: family needs support!

The fates of John Wolter and Til Klein are tragic examples of how quickly life can change. John, a 15-year-old handball player from Anklam, became paraplegic in a serious traffic accident in September 2024. This accident occurred when he was riding his bicycle and collided with a car at an intersection, resulting in a fractured cervical vertebra and several other injuries. He was put into a coma and is now struggling for months in a rehabilitation facility in Brandenburg to fight his way back to life. John's condition is serious and he is currently unable to move his fingers and requires extensive support. The family shares the care of the young person on a weekly basis, which brings additional challenges, as Nordkurier reports.

But it's not just physical rehabilitation that's a big issue. The Wolter family also faces an enormous financial challenge. In order to convert their house to make it handicapped accessible, the family needs around 40,000 euros to install a new bathroom and a ramp for the wheelchair. In addition, a vehicle must be purchased that can accommodate John's wheelchair. So far, a fundraising campaign started by his sister Lisa has already raised over 9,000 euros.

More fates

Another moving example is 17-year-old Til Klein from Gummersbach, who is faced with similar challenges. After his accident in July 2024, in which he was seriously injured while mountain biking, he is also paralyzed. Til is fighting for his mobility and is making progress in his rehabilitation, for example by making his first attempts at walking with aids. The family faces similar financial hurdles as the Wolters; The parents' house needs to be rebuilt with, among other things, an elevator and a new bathroom. A GoFundMe campaign they started has already raised over 59,300 euros with the aim of financing the necessary adjustments to the home. Til also recently took part in a fundraising marathon to do good and raise money for inclusive projects for children, reports [RTL](https://www.rtl.de/leben/til-17-nach-unfall-querschnittsgelaehmt-jetzt- Nimm-er-beim-spendenmarathon-teil-id1947107.html).

Both boys symbolize the many people who are faced with the challenge of redesigning their lives after a severe stroke of fate. Both have a strong desire to recover and return to active life. These stories not only highlight the youth's personal struggles, but also the need to improve infrastructure for people with disabilities. This is also where the Beelitz rehabilitation clinic comes in, which has applied for funding as part of a nationwide digitalization program to create optimal conditions for the rehabilitation of paraplegics. This includes, among other things, the introduction of digital patient files and modern care structures, as can be read on rehaklinik-beelitz.de.

John and Til's stories remind us how important support and solidarity are in everyday life. It is up to us to help these young men and their families and to shine a spotlight on the often overlooked challenges faced by people with disabilities. Their struggles are not only personal but also societal calls for change. Together we can ensure that such fates are not forgotten and receive the necessary support they deserve.