Ayabonga and his gogo boarded a plane for the very first time this past weekend – marking an emotional trip that became an answered prayer and the critical first step toward accessing lifesaving specialist medical care at Groote Schuur Hospital.
Cape Town, South Africa (03 November 2025) – While some may experience their first flight as one that’s taken them to an adventure to an undiscovered part of the world, for young Ayabonga and his loving granny, theirs was also an answered prayer to access the healing they had been longing for.
This weekend, the grandson and grandmother took their very first flight from OR Tambo to Cape Town.
According to Wing and Wishes, who made this travel opportunity possible, the family hails from Piet Retief in Mpumalanga and is on a courageous journey as Ayabonga prepares to receive treatment at Groote Schuur Hospital – specialist medical treatment that wasn’t readily available in his hometown.
Thanks to Wings and Wishes’ partnerships with organisations and transport companies that share its vision of helping disadvantaged, ill children overcome barriers to accessing lifesaving healthcare, Ayabonga and his grandmother safely arrived in Cape Town. This brave little boy now has a fighting chance.
He is one of thousands of children that Wings and Wishes helps transport across provincial borders to reach the medical care that they require, like little Lisolethu, who recently travelled safely and comfortably from Frere Hospital to Red Cross Children’s Hospital for surgery for a congenital heart defect, as well as seven-year-old Bokamoso, who took a brave step on his journey to healing, flying to Cape Town for a 10-day treatment for Retinoblastoma at Groote Schuur Hospital.
Wings and Wishes also provides compassionate and professional assistance to these children and their families, ensuring they have immediate access to the essential medical services which they need, and which are not available to them at a local level.
From Ayabonga, who is preparing to begin his treatment, to Bokamoso, who is well within his, each little warrior’s journey is a heartwarming reminder of the strength of our children and the power of collective compassion to give every child the fighting chance they deserve.
Sources: Wings and Wishes
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