“Thank you for helping us”, the sincere words of a grateful seven-year-old girl courageously facing diabetes after experiencing the overwhelming generosity of South Africans who have provided a means for her to regulate her blood sugar levels better, giving her family hope for more days filled with joy than pain.
Benoni, South Africa (25 July 2025) – Sometimes, stepping out in faith opens the door to profound kindness. A Benoni family recently experienced this firsthand when strangers, deeply moved by their story, offered all the help they needed to restore peace to their world.
A few days before her seventh birthday, Carley Rose Meyer from Benoni in Gauteng, went from being a happy, energetic little girl with what her mom thought was a common virus, to being rushed to the ICU with dangerously high blood sugar levels.
Carley was later diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on 2 July, and just like that, her world, and her family’s, changed.
Where there were once carefree days, there are now insulin injections, sugar checks, strict routines, and the weight of medical decisions far beyond a child’s years. But Carley faces each day with a resilience that has touched the hearts of many.
“Even when I wake her at midnight for insulin, she tells me, ‘Mommy, I’m okay,’” says her mom, Elisabeth Meyer.
“She’s the bravest person I know.”
A Bond Like No Other
At home, Carley shares a deep and intuitive bond with her nine-year-old brother Riley, who is autistic. While the world can feel overwhelming for Riley, Carley is his constant, his comfort.
“They have a love that doesn’t need words,” says Elisabeth. “When Carley was in the hospital, Riley cried every day. She’s his person.”
As a single mom, Elisabeth is the steady force navigating both children’s unique needs. “It’s a lot,” she admits. “But they’re my everything.”
A Small Machine, A Big Difference
In her search for ways to ease their daily challenges, Elisabeth discovered the Aquazone Ozone H₂O Machine, a natural therapy believed to help regulate blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and support neurological balance. She launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, hoping to raise R25,000.
To her surprise, the goal was reached in just two days!
“I thought the website was broken,” Elisabeth recalls.
“Then my phone rang. My mom and sister were crying. We had done it. For the first time that week, I could breathe.”
More than R31,200 has now been raised by just seven donors, including one anonymous champion who gave the campaign its final push, ultimately changing their lives.
Finding Strength in Small Moments
Thanks to the generous support, Carley now uses the Aquazone therapy daily. While not a cure, the treatment offers a glimmer of relief and hope. The family also believes it may help regulate Riley’s sensory and emotional responses.
“I just want them both to feel like kids again. To have more days filled with joy than pain,” says Elisabeth.
When asked why she wanted the machine, Carley simply said:
“Because it will help me feel better.”
For her mother, that was all she needed to hear.
On her seventh birthday, Carley was allowed one special treat—her first sweet bite since her diagnosis.
“She savoured every bite of her cupcake. It was just a cupcake—but to us, it was everything.”
This story has reminded many that compassion often comes from strangers—and that hope can arrive in the smallest of gestures.
In Carley’s words:
“Thank you for helping us. I want to be strong and happy again. I love my brother, and I want him to be okay, too.”
And from Riley:
“Thank you for loving my sister. I love her too.”
Sources: Supplied
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