A mom’s heartfelt plea to get her autistic son out of pain has been fully funded thanks to the kindness of strangers online.
South Africa (06 October 2026) – Dillan’s mom may have started this campaign, but the real stars of the story are the strangers who helped finish it!
Theresa Du Preez is a single mom and the sole provider for her family. Recently, like many South Africans, they’ve fallen on financially hard times.
Her 20-year-old son, Dillan, is autistic, and he has been living with two abscesses and a tooth so badly deteriorated that the nerve is exposed. The pain has been constant, and with an exposed nerve, even eating has caused Dillan tremendous pain. He has already lost 3kg. The only way to curb the pain is for the tooth to be surgically removed, amongst other dental problems that need to be solved.
Because of his autism, Dillan can’t tolerate dental procedures while awake, which means the work has to be done in theatre under anaesthesia. That means paying for the theatre, the anaesthetist and the dentist, and Dillan doesn’t have medical aid. The government hospital route would have meant about seven appointments beforehand, each one a day off work for a mom who can’t afford to lose the income.
With nowhere else to turn, Theresa did something that is never easy. She put her family’s story online and asked strangers for help.
“Asking for help is never easy,” she wrote, “but I cannot do this alone.”
Then came the waiting, refreshing and hoping that someone would read her words and care. Less than a month later, strangers have shown up in the most incredible way to get Dillan the dental surgery he needs. People saw the plea for help, and they understood.
Donations first began trickling in from people who had never met Dillan and had nothing to gain but the knowledge that a young man would soon be out of pain. Others shared the campaign so it could land in front of more kind eyes. Those rands gradually became a wave of kindness. In just 21 days, the campaign has raised R50,200 against its R50,000 goal.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude.”
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'Incredible Kindness of South Africans' on the Road From KimberleyAfter weeks of pain, a very tired mom finally gets to breathe out. A plea for help has officially become a celebration. The guests of honour are every single person who read Theresa’s words and decided to do something about them!
Want to add your name to the helpers’ list? You can find the campaign here.
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