A flat tyre, a helping hand, and a wheelchair miracle! What started as a frustrating flat tyre on the way from Johannesburg to Mpumalanga turned into an incredibly heartwarming encounter for Etienne Schlechter and Abbey when they met a kind mechanic who was more than happy to help and share a bit about his son.
Mpumalanga, South Africa (26 June 2025) – There is nothing that can throw you off course while on your way to an important appointment quite like a flat tyre.
While on their way from Johannesburg to Mpumalanga, Etienne Max Schlechter and Abbey experienced this firsthand. To make matters worse, it was in that dispiriting moment that they discovered that the wheel spanner they had did not fit the lug nuts of their car.
Quite the damper on the pair’s heartfelt mission, Etienne and Abbey had been making their way to one of the Cheshire Homes to deliver some donated goods to the special needs residents.
They managed to limp to a nearby turn-off, where they met a kind man in a bakkie who, by God’s grace, happened to be a mechanic and had the tools they needed to change the tyre. He was more than happy to help them out.
As they were getting ready to get back on the road, the man opened up about having a physically disabled nine-year-old son who needed a wheelchair, which he couldn’t currently afford.
And in an even sweeter twist to their encounter, Etienne, who happens to be the chairman of the Eric Miles Cheshire Home, revealed that they happened to have wheelchairs in the back of their vehicle as part of the donations they were delivering and were only happy to donate him one!
When the universe conspires to bring together a man in need of a wheel spanner for his flat tyre with one who needs a wheelchair for his son, and they can gladly help each other in their predicaments, how can we not believe in small miracles?!
Reflecting on the special encounter, Etienne said in a post:
“His act of kindness in helping us got his son a wheelchair. There are lots of beautiful people in this country. With all the negativity out there, don’t forget to notice all the kindness!”
Sources: Etienne Max Schlechter
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