Help Us Secure Wyatt’s Future and Start Over - We are looking for 1,000 people who will each give $20 / £20 / €20 (ZAR300).
Three of the hardest words to say are “I need help.”
My name is Lesley. I am a devoted mother writing with a heavy heart — but also with real hope. Our greatest fear is losing the roof over our heads and failing to give our precious son Wyatt the safe, stable start every child deserves. More than that, we are fighting to get our family out of South Africa so Wyatt can grow up in safety and have a real future.
Wyatt is our miracle baby. After years of longing and heartache, we finally welcomed him — a long-awaited answer to our prayers. He is now showing clear signs of autism and developmental delays that urgently need professional assessment and early intervention. Every month that passes without support risks holding him back from reaching his full potential. As his mother, I lie awake at night knowing that the right help, in a safer environment, could change the entire course of his life.
After years of relentless setbacks — including devastating floods that strike our home almost every year — we have reached a make-or-break moment. I lost my job in April 2025 and, despite constant applications, have been unable to find new work. The economic pressures and limited opportunities we face make it increasingly clear that remaining in South Africa is no longer sustainable or safe for our family, especially for Wyatt.
We need to leave. We need a path to safety and opportunity. And we need the stability to give Wyatt the early support he requires.
Our Story
I grew up in a working-class family as the youngest of three. My father was a diesel mechanic and my mother an artist. Life was simple until my father’s company liquidated and we lost our home while I was still in Grade 12. That experience planted a lifetime of financial instability I have been battling ever since.
My husband and I bought this property in 2013 with big dreams — to care for our aging mothers and create a forever home. We poured our blood, sweat and tears into it. Instead, we inherited serious undisclosed defects: a leaky roof, dangerous wiring and hidden structural problems. Since 2022, repeated flooding has destroyed our efforts. Insurance stopped paying after the first major claim. The house is now crumbling around us, too expensive to maintain, and we are at real risk of losing everything.
We are also caring for my mother, who has dementia and survives on a tiny state pension. Her needs continue to grow, adding further weight to our shoulders.
Through every storm, our greatest priority has always been Wyatt. I refuse to let pride stop me from fighting for his safety, his development and his future.
How Your Support Will Change Our Lives (Target: R350,000)
We are asking 1,000 people to each give $20 / £20 / €20. Together, that support will fund a clear, practical plan that gives us stability and a real path forward:
- Essential home repairs – Fix the worst flood damage, roof, driveway and safety issues so we can sell the house and downsize.
- Wyatt’s preschool for one full year – A nurturing place where he can learn, grow and begin receiving the early support he needs while we arrange developmental assessments.
- My husband’s Higher Certificate in Supply Chain Management – To gain formal recognition of his nearly 20 years of experience so he can access more stable and better-paid roles.
- My Higher Certificate in Office Management – Strengthening my existing experience and skills so I can secure reliable employment.
- Basic living support for our family of 3 (approximately 9 months) – Help with food and essentials while we study and I continue the job search.
- Immigration documents and pathway costs – Gathering the required birth, marriage and death certificates to establish our Irish and UK ancestry, and covering essential steps that could open a route to safety and opportunity for Wyatt and our family.
This is not endless charity. It is seed funding for a fresh start.
Why This Matters
Your contribution is far more than just bricks and mortar. It is hope for a little boy who waited years to enter this world. It is the belief that our miracle baby deserves safety, timely developmental support, education and the chance to thrive instead of merely surviving.
We often see high-profile crowdfunding campaigns raise hundreds of thousands or even millions. Meanwhile, ordinary families simply trying to live honest lives struggle, and on average fewer than 20% of crowdfunding campaigns ever reach their goals. We are one of those ordinary families.
Why We Are Making an International Plea
We are reaching out internationally because so many of our friends and community here in South Africa are also under heavy financial pressure and simply cannot help right now. We do not have local people with the means to support a campaign of this size. The exchange rate also means that even a modest donation of $20 / £20 / €20 goes significantly further in South Africa, allowing us to ask less of each person while still making a real difference. This way we can lighten the burden on our donors, and still give Wyatt the safety and future stability he needs. (Current Estimated Exchange Rates: $20 = R320 / £20 = R435 / €20 = R370)
We are ready to do the hard work. With your compassion, we can move from floods, stress and anxiety to hope, healing and a new beginning outside South Africa.
We are looking for 1,000 people. Will you be one of them?
Please help us today. Lesley, Wyatt & Family ❤️
Campaign link: https://www.givesendgo.com/OurLastHope
