A Joburg mom posted a Christmas wish for her son which has inspired an entire community to help.
Chantal Sauerman, a widowed mom, posted the simple request on the I Love Fourways group on the 14th December which has since gone viral and inspired an entire community to help.
“Hi everybody! My little boy is 12 years old and in a wheelchair. Although he is not able to walk, he is still able to use his hands, and has a passion for fixing and taking apart appliances of any kind. With the long holidays now upon us, he is not able to go out and “play” as such.”
“Instead, he spends his days inside our garage with his toolbox close by. For anybody who may be wanting to get rid of appliances that are no longer working, please let me know.”
Within a couple of minutes, the post was filled with community members offering vacuum cleaners, smoothie machines, DVD players and microwaves.
Pranisha Rama posted: “Hi Chantal. I have a vacuum cleaner and smoothie machine… with both I suspect that the motor is gone but I’ll gladly give it to you if you want”
Michele Forder offered: “I have a small little portable fridge, prob holds 4 cans of cool drinks if he wants that. Has never worked.”
Verity Mathee Pelser commented: “Does he like Lego? Have a brand new bionic man set if interested?”
The post got some donations offering to update Brady’s toolbox and he was even given an entire working printer from Nashua West Rand to fully take apart & put back together.
Robert Dziubdziela added: “Hi Chantal, I know your request was for appliances which I do not have old ones to donate but is there a tool i.e a drill or electric screwdriver that he wants? Maybe I could get him a new toolbox? I would really like to contribute to the little guy’s Christmas gift collection.”
Trevor Nicolas offered: “Sjoe… looks like you are going to have a garage full ! I am a director at Nashua West Rand. Happy to donate a fully functional copier / printer that he could mess around with. Can also supply manuals for him to understand how it works etc. PM me !”
Michelle Freeman said: “Dropped you a message regarding a fun day for Brady with the engineers at Bushveld Labs. Please let me know”
With thousands of responses and hundreds of donations, Chantal who never expected such a wonderful and huge response , took to Facebook to thank everyone again.
“Hi everybody! Just wanted to send out a little note to all.
Sitting with tears in my eyes as his mom for the wonderful response and for the kindness that is still out there. Thank you so much from myself, Bradys mom, and from Brady. What a wonderful Christmas holiday Brady will have!
As his mom, my heart just breaks, but also, is so blessed to have this special littke boy to bless my life.
With my husband passing away unexpectedly 6 months ago, we as a little family have been devastated, but my 2 boys, Brady and Dilan have been so brave and so strong, and we manage to get through each day. With Bradys illness, his dad was always the one to help and assist Brady in each task.
And suddenly he was gone.
How would we cope, how do I manage as a mom on my own? These thoughts are always close by. But with Gods help, we will be ok. My mom is always there to remind me that God will never leave our little family, and he will provide, and bring into our lives, people to love and to care.
And this ad, asking simply for any broken appliances, and the response it has had has been such a wonderful blessing to us as a family.
So to you all, you have just made a huge difference in not only a little boy, but to a family. May you all be blessed in return.”
It’s stories like these that make the heart warm, and remind us all what Christmas is really about.
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