A Son Far From Home

Divan is only in his early twenties.

A young South African whose passion for rugby runs deep in his blood. He was fit, strong, and full of life - until everything changed.

Today, Divan lies in a hospital bed in China, far from home, fighting a fierce and life-threatening enemy: bacterial meningitis.

At the end of November 2025, Divan travelled to China to work as an au pair. Around Christmas time, he began experiencing a stiff neck. At first, we all thought it might simply be the bed - not suited to his big, strong frame. But soon, the stiffness was followed by a severe, relentless headache, throbbing and pulsating with unbearable pain.

He sought medical help. X-rays showed neck stiffness, and he was sent home. But his condition rapidly worsened. After multiple emergency hospital visits, IV antibiotics, and further testing, it became clear that Divan’s body was battling something far more sinister than anyone could have imagined.

Divan was placed into a coma and moved to ICU. Doctors discovered fluid building up around his brain, and emergency surgery...