Blood, Sweat, Tears & Floods: Help Us Repair Our Home, Secure Wyatt’s Future, and Start Over
Three of the hardest words to say are “I need help.”
My name is Lesley, and I’m a devoted mom reaching out with a heavy heart — but also with real hope. Right now, 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.
Wyatt is our miracle baby. After years of longing and heartache, we finally welcomed him — a long-awaited answer to our prayers. But now he’s showing clear signs of autism and developmental delays that urgently need professional investigation and assessment. Every month that passes without support risks holding him back from reaching his full potential. As his mom, I lie awake at night knowing that early intervention could change his entire future — if only we can first secure a safe home and the stability to get him the help he needs.
After years of relentless setbacks — including devastating floods that strike our home almost every year — we’ve reached a make-or-break moment. We’re fighting to keep our family together and give Wyatt the chance he deserves. I lost my job in April 2025, and despite constantly applying I am unable to find a job.
With your kindness, we can repair just enough of the flood damage to sell our home, downsize to something affordable, and finally build the secure future our family so desperately needs.
Our Story
I grew up in a working-class family as the youngest of three. My dad was a diesel mechanic, my mom an artist. Life was simple, until my father’s employer liquidated when I was in Grade 10... and by Grade 12 we lost our home, and my family was shattered. That pain planted a lifetime of financial instability I’ve 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 problems. Since 2022, repeated flooding has destroyed our efforts. Insurance stopped paying after rejecting the majority of the first claim. The house is now crumbling around us, too expensive to maintain, and we’re at real risk of losing everything.
We’re also caring for my mom, who was diagnosed with dementia in July 202 and survives on a tiny state pension. Her needs keep growing, adding even more weight to our shoulders.
Through every storm, our greatest priority and responsibility 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: R250,000)
Your donations 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 and downsize to a more affordable home.
- 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 his developmental assessments.
- My husband’s Higher Certificate/Diploma in Supply Chain Management – Providing him with certifications to reinforce and formally recognize his nearly 20 years of experience, addressing the qualification barriers that have kept him underpaid and limited in opportunities, while securing access to more stable and better-compensated roles.
- My Higher Certificate in Office Management – Strengthening my skill-set and reinforcing my existing experience so I can secure reliable employment, and build a sustainable career.
- Basic living support for our family of 3 (approx. 9 months) – Help to partially subsidise food and essentials while we study and I continue my search for employment.
This isn’t simply charity — it’s seed funding for a fresh start. Once the house sells and we complete our studies, we’ll be equipped to support ourselves and care for my mom with dignity.
Why This Matters
Your contribution is so much more than bricks and mortar. It’s hope for a little boy who waited years to enter this world. It’s belief that our miracle baby deserves safety, timely developmental support, education, and the chance to thrive instead of just surviving.
Every donation you give moves us one step closer to turning fear into stability — one repaired wall, one preschool morning, one professional assessment, and one night where I can finally sleep knowing Wyatt’s future is brighter.
Together, we can break this cycle of struggle and give Wyatt the loving, secure home and strong start he deserves. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Whether it’s R50, R100, R500, or simply sharing this campaign — every bit of support brings us closer to the reset our family needs so badly.
We are ready to do the hard work. With your compassion, we can finally move from floods, tears, stress and anxiety, to hope and healing.
Please help us today. Lesley, Wyatt & Family ❤️
