The Story of Hennie Randall
By Lance de Willers
Were it not for the dozen or so tenacious-looking clouds tugging at the city skyline and looking like they meant business, the morning of 24 March would otherwise have seemed to offer nothing extraordinary. Beach-bound tourists were optimistically anticipating another hot, dry day in Cape Town and almost faithfully, the traffic was winding its way towards the concrete edifices of the financial district. I was content in the knowledge that I was north-bound to the country. My diary announced an 11:00 appointment: "Meeting with Hennie Randall at the Institute".
At the Institute for the Blind in Worcester, many surprises await the uninitiated. One of many discoveries I was to make during the day there, was that hidden inside one of several non-descript buildings, was housed a mattress factory. At individual stations spread evenly along two walls, several blind and deaf-blind workers were getting on with the business of producing hand-made spring mattresses. I was astounded and tried counting all the steps involved. Here were so-called disabled people manually performing precision tasks and almost without exception, most were smiling.
By 11:00, Freddie Botha, the head of the Institute and his fellow conspirators were at their stations. Snacks were laid out on tables, curious bystanders were gathering in the hallways and cameras were at hand. Along with Freddie, there was Bruno Savaria from Sensory Solutions, myself, Isabelle Randall (Hennie's mom) and Gerrie Buckley. We were all in place and it was time.
"Call Hennie" someone whispered.
Four months earlier, Gerrie Buckley bumped into Hennie at a chess tournament. She was immediately aware of the positive and outgoing attitude and friendly disposition of the young man and, after briefly speaking to him, realised that Hennie was a happy change from many other disabled people she had met. Apparently, despite putting up a spirited fight, his younger opponent managed to dethrone Hennie's king quite early in the match. Gerrie left the tournament with a resolution that would shape her life for the next 4 months and most likely, long beyond. She had just unofficially "adopted" Hennie Randall, a twenty-eight year-old Deaf-Blind chess player who, she was to discover later, also worked in a mattress factory not far from there.
In November 2009 Gerrie contacted Sensory Solutions to gauge the scope of her challenge. She was committed to raising the necessary funds to purchase, as Hennie's personal property, a new laptop computer, loaded with Jaws Screen Reading Software and coupled to a 40-cell Refreshable Braille Display. This equipment would enable Hennie to communicate, function and if he so chose, study independently. Gerrie was aiming high. The solution she was hoping to give to Hennie would cost her close to sixty thousand rand. She had no money, but she knew she had time.
What followed was a personal journey of discovery best described by Gerrie herself. Buoyed by many promises of funding and assistance, Gerrie was shattered by the ease with which those same promises would somehow be forgotten. No money was forthcoming and months were going by. Gerrie was no nearer her goal of helping Hennie. Then, one day, a miracle happened. A donor would share his personal financial windfall with Gerrie and donate half the money needed for Hennie's equipment. Moreover, he chose to remain anonymous. Gerrie was speechless. She was now halfway to realising her goal.
More months went by and cruelly, more promises were broken. Finally, enough was enough and a decision was made. Gerrie would contribute the funds she had thus far raised and Sensory Solutions, the suppliers of the technology would make up the shortfall. Hennie would get the complete set of equipment and Gerrie no longer had to go hat-in-hand to would-be donors. Her journey was nearing its destination.
Hennie had earlier been told by Freddie that they were going out to a small performance and that as a result, he had to dress appropriately for the occasion. The Institute Boardroom was silent as Hennie stepped through the door. Gerrie was the first to take him by the hand and "tell" him that she was there and to explain what was happening. She had worked tirelessly for months to be able to hand over this precious gift to her "adopted son" and the moment was understandably charged with emotion. Hennie couldn't believe it. His beloved Gerrie had come through with the most magnificent gift that offered him endless possibilities. For the next 30 minutes Hennie's excitement and enthusiasm created a buzz of animated conversation in the boardroom. Dry eyes were hard to find.
Hennie Randall is a young man with incredible potential. He is enthusiastic, intelligent and friendly, and like most young men of his age, he is impatient. He wants to get things done and he has the energy to achieve what he sets out to do. Perhaps that's what Gerrie Buckley saw in him when she chose to help him.
The fact is, as he continues with his life, armed with abundant positive energy and enthusiasm and with a special gift from his angel, Hennie Randall will more than likely write his own story. I look forward to reading it.
