“On May 23, 2020, I woke up to find my wife, Carol lying dead next to me. Her body was ice cold, foam around her mouth,” said Freek.
The physician on call in the ICU, explained that there was nothing more they could do for Carol and that she was being kept alive by the machines, breathing for her.
“I was told that she would be monitored overnight and if there was no improvement, the machines would be switched off. This was the most stressful night of my life,” said Freek.
“But by some miracle, overnight, my wife returned to life, and she was discharged a week later. I remember it clearly, I was watching my Leadership Lecture on my cell phone, while waiting for her to be discharged from the hospital, as I was not allowed inside,” he recalled.
Freek and his wife Carol
Merely a week after Carol, who is a cancer patient, turned from death’s door, the family was hit with another blow, as Freek was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.
“It was frightening, my mind played games with me and at times, I was convinced that I was going to die.
"The pain and the struggle to breath was excruciating,” recalls Freek.
Then two days later, another blow, as his son Gerhard and wife, Carol, were also diagnosed with the virus.
“I found strength in my wife, as she was so calm during this difficult time. Thankfully, we all recovered, but I felt so overwhelmingly tired, and I didn’t want to continue my studies,” said Freek.
He contacted his course coordinator, Luella van Wyk, to withdraw from the programme but she convinced him to persevere.
“I’m so glad I listened to her and took her advice to continue my studies. My first module, after this trauma, was a Research Project proposal, for which I achieved a distinction. In fact, I passed all three of my modules, two of them I achieved above 70% and the other above 65%,” said Freek.
“When I started my MBA, the division I worked in as a Team Manager, in the automotive industry, was not prepared to finance my studies but I was determined to do this qualification and took a loan from the bank” said Freek.
During his second semester of study, Freek was seconded to support another department, at work, for a year.
“In the beginning, I had some challenges in the new department but I decided to grab every opportunity and requested that they finance my second year of study, thankfully they agreed,” said Freek.
In 2021, Freek’s close friend and fellow MBA student, Sharoney Witbooi, tragically died due to respiratory complications, shortly after giving birth to her first daughter.
“She was a brilliant mind. We started the MBA together, we supported and motivated each other, we had plans to do our doctorates together, her death felt like yet another setback.
Besides numerous workplace challenges, a threat of unemployment and the death of his friend, Freek was met with countless delays, battling to obtain clarence and permission to start, conduct and finish his treatise.
“Many times, during my studies I felt despondent, fighting waves of emotions. There were weeks when I’d sit in front of my laptop with no energy to continue, but in January this year, I submitted my final copy, with a really good pass.
"I am grateful for those who supported and encouraged me, my fellow group members Marcelle Minnaar and Sine Makobo and my supervisor, Dr Allan Weimann, were all extremely supportive during this challenging time,” said Freek
“I decided to push through and finish my MBA, for my family and Sharoney’s family, who will be joining me at my graduation. All glory to God, I am so grateful I made it and will receive my MBA qualification to honour them all,” said Freek.