When a devoted husband learned about the diagnosis causing his wife’s strained breathing and recurrent chest infections, he used his carpentry skills to create beautiful cutting boards to help give her a fighting chance.
Western Cape, South Africa (08 September 2025) – When Riaan Naude’s wife, Michelle, received the devastating diagnosis of Tracheal Stenosis, he responded not only by standing with her but with love in action.
Drawing on his carpentry skills, he poured his heart into crafting cutting boards, each one shaped by the hope of funding Michelle’s life-saving surgery.
As a skilled carpenter, Riaan has spent years designing and building anything from kitchen cupboards to bedroom vanities. Recently, those same hands have become a lifeline, with each cutting board he has made forming part of a heartfelt project to raise funds for Michelle’s treatment.
The procedure Michelle requires, a tracheal stenosis excision and tracheoplasty, will remove and reconstruct the damaged part of her airway. And while it comes at a significant cost, Riaan was adamant he wanted to take on the project and see if any boards would sell.
“We drove 140.8km to go fetch the first batch of Quartz material. He changed his grinder into a cutting tool, and for his birthday on 31 August, he asked for a proper polisher. He could literally ask for anything he really needed or wanted, and he asked for a polisher to make the boards for my cause,” shares Michelle.
Riaan’s gift arrived on Friday, 29 August, and soon he made his first cutting board.
“I remember us taking photos all around the kitchen and cutting up an apple on it and getting the perfect shots to show off this masterpiece.
“We received our first message and order. Now we had no clue if this was going to sell or if people were interested, but we were hopeful, excited and positive,” Michelle continues.
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It wasn’t long before a second order came in and another! Despite struggling to stand up straight himself, Riaan was determined to make even more boards.
“We are standing at 48 cutting boards and counting. People who have already received theirs are ordering more and sharing the news more as they are so extremely happy with how it looks, the quality and absolute excellence. We bubble wrap them nicely and have beautiful stickers made, thanking customers for the purchase and as well as supporting our cause.”
The Naudes have been touched and overwhelmed by the kindness and support from the public towards giving Michelle a fighting chance at overcoming her condition.
“He is literally doing this now to save my life,” a grateful Michelle exclaims.
Although Riaan has been working from dusk till dawn, he would need to sell hundreds more to reach the funds needed for surgery and post-op care.
Riaan and Michelle simply cannot do it on their own and are pouring their hearts out to Mzansi to help them during this difficult time.
To make a donation, visit the Help Michelle Breathe Freely Again BackaBuddy campaign. Or if you would like to purchase a cutting board, you can email Riaan here.
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