This Mother’s Day, Pamela Kantor has a renewed sense of hope and an unshakable belief in miracles, convinced that something as simple as the trainers on her feet helped keep her grounded when a vehicle reversed over her.
On March 16, the mother of three’s life changed in an instant during her daily morning walk in the quiet Fairmount suburb in Johannesburg.
A security vehicle accidentally reversed into her, knocking her to the ground before running over her and coming to a stop.
Injuries
Kantor, a Grade 4 teacher, managed to crawl out from underneath the vehicle, but the incident left her with a severe injury to her left ankle.
She now relies on crutches to walk short distances and a wheelchair for longer ones. Despite everything she has endured, Kantor remains resilient, drawing strength from her children as she works toward her recovery.
Recalling the incident, Kantor says she normally walked with a friend but was alone that day.
“I did not hear the vehicle coming toward me. I remember being hit and having my entire life flash before me. My first thought was of my children, and I recall screaming out for my mother, who died seven years ago. I kept telling myself I cannot close my eyes, and I believe if I did, I would not be here today,” she explains.
She says the thought of not being there for her children, aged 18, 15 and 10, gave her the strength to crawl from underneath the vehicle.
Kantor made her way to the pavement, where she lay down before calling her husband, Peter, and her sister, Andrea Ben, for assistance.
A woman from a nearby house came to her aid and contacted paramedics. Kantor was transported to Milpark Hospital.
“I had bruises all over my body, my chin was cut open and my left ankle was injured. It is a miracle that I did not break any bones,” she says.
Miracle
Since March, she has been undergoing rehabilitation for her left foot.
“It has been incredibly tough dealing with the pain and sleepless nights. Simple tasks like having a bath used to take a few minutes, and now it’s over an hour. My husband, dad [Farrell Ben] and sister have been helping me navigate each challenge I face,” she adds.
Looking back, Kantor says she has found ‘little miracles’ in her experience.
“One of them was a pair of trainers I bought a couple of weeks before the incident. I never normally spend a lot of money on shoes, but I walk every day and needed something comfortable and supportive. In that moment of impact, when everything felt out of control, they grounded me. They supported me. They held me steady. I had no idea they would become part of my survival story,” she explains.
Second change at motherhood
Mother’s Day will be different this year.
Kantor says the experience has given her a new perspective – shifting from constantly striving to keep everything perfect to stepping back and approaching motherhood with a clearer, more reflective mindset.
She says that this year she will be celebrating what she sees as a second chance at motherhood.
“My children have given me strength and hope. I am thankful to see them grow and watch my oldest son complete matric while my daughter and youngest son reach their milestones. This ordeal has brought us closer, and we now share a renewed sense of love and compassion. For me, this is what matters most,” adds Kantor.
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