When a two-year-old boy was given just six weeks to live, the universe and compassion in action conspired to change his fate. Not only did he receive lifesaving treatment all the way across the globe, but he also healed and recently celebrated his 17th birthday!
Johannesburg, South Africa (17 February 2026) – At just two years old, Tristan Smit was facing a reality no family should ever have to confront. A terminal cancer diagnosis, in which his parents, Helen and Pierre, were advised to prepare for the worst.
Given just six weeks to live, a glimmer of hope emerged within that very short time frame. Helen and Pierre learned about a specialised proton therapy treatment available in Texas, USA.
Though it came at an exorbitant cost, Tristan’s teachers at his crèche refused to accept that nothing more could be done. In March 2010, they reached out to Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels, asking for help.
What followed was a moment that would forever change Tristan’s life.
Helen was surprised on air with a large portion of the funds needed for her family to travel to Texas, giving Tristan access to the life-saving treatment he so desperately needed. Against all odds, Tristan not only survived but flourished!
Now, 15 years later, Tristan’s story continues to inspire. He celebrated his 17th birthday in April last year – a birthday few thought he’d live to experience and a powerful reminder of what is possible when compassion meets action.
“We had a lot of angels in our path that made this whole journey possible,” Helen says.
“I really want to say thank you to Jacaranda FM and Good Morning Angels for the awareness they raised around my son’s condition and for giving him the treatment he needed.”
Host of Jacaranda FM’s Breakfast With Martin Bester, Martin says Tristan’s story is one that stays with you.
“It reminds us that behind every Good Morning Angels moment is a real family, a real child, and a real future at stake. Twenty years later, the heart of Good Morning Angels remains the same – ordinary people coming together to give others hope when they need it most,” he says.
As the trusted upliftment initiative celebrates 20 years of offering support during some of South Africans’ most overwhelming moments, it continues to prove that kindness, when amplified, can change the course of a life.
For Helen, Pierre and Tristan Smit, that kindness became a lifeline.
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