After battling bone cancer three times, 18-year-old Donovan Watson got the chance to tick a lifelong dream off his bucket list when a group of caring strangers arranged a ride in his favourite car, a red Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Johannesburg, South Africa (31 May 2026) – The sound of a Corvette engine might not mean much to most people. For Donovan Watson, it meant everything.
After years of hospital visits, treatments and battles no teenager should ever have to face, a simple dream was waiting to be fulfilled. And thanks to a group of people who cared enough to make it happen, Donovan got the ride he had always hoped for.
At just 18 years old, Donovan has already faced more challenges than many people will encounter in a lifetime. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the age of 14, he has fought bone cancer three separate times. He lost the bone in his leg to the disease and endured multiple rounds of treatment, each bringing its own physical and emotional toll. Today, the cancer has become resistant to chemotherapy, and the tumours are pressing against his oesophagus. Doctors have told him that his time is limited and he may not see his next birthday but that reality is only one part of Donovan’s story.
Despite living with constant pain and being confined to a wheelchair, Donovan remains someone who brings happiness to everyone around him. Friends, family and caregivers describe a young man with an infectious sense of humour and a gift for making others smile, even on the hardest days. There is a lightness in the way he approaches life that feels almost impossible when you consider everything he has endured. That spirit has made a lasting impression on the team at Stepping Stone Hospice, where Donovan has been receiving care. Wanting to create a special memory for him, one of the hospice’s dedicated staff members learned about his love for cars and decided to make a dream come true. With the help of her husband and a generous local Alberton resident whose heart was touched after meeting Donovan, plans were set in motion for him to experience the ride of a lifetime in his dream car, a red Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Reflecting on the experience afterwards, Donovan struggled to hide his excitement.
“Believe it or not, the Corvette is my favourite car; I was happy it was not a Porsche. The car made a beautiful sound, and this American car is made for taking off. I love cars, especially Japanese-made cars. Being able to ride in such a luxurious car again is one to scratch off my list. I’m grateful to the lovely lady who organised this wonderful experience,” he said.
For those who know him best, the joy on Donovan’s face was worth every bit of effort it took to arrange the experience. His girlfriend, Tania van Zyl, said watching him see the car and experience the ride was something she will never forget.
“He really enjoyed himself. He looked at the car with wide eyes and lit up with a big smile, and after the ride he wouldn’t stop saying, ‘It was so nice and fast!’ He is truly living in the moment.”
The ride may have been the highlight of the day but it is the people surrounding Donovan who have made the biggest difference throughout his journey.
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Speaking about his time at Stepping Stone Hospice, he shared how much the environment and staff have meant to him during this chapter of his life.
“It really doesn’t feel like I’m in a hospital. It feels like I’m at a safe place, not home, but a safe place.”
“I’m speechless. Before coming here, I thought there were no more good people left. But after this whole experience and being here, I can confidently say there are still good people in this world.”
Among those people is his mother, Berdina, who has stood beside him through every diagnosis, treatment and setback. Donovan speaks about her with immense gratitude and love, recognising the role she has played in helping him navigate challenges no young person should ever have to face.
“She’s one of the reasons why I’m still here. She has been a real mother to me from the start to the end.”
There is also Marlise de Abreu, who first connected with Donovan on Facebook when he urgently needed transport to hospital appointments. What started as a simple act of kindness grew into a friendship that has lasted four years. Through countless appointments, chemotherapy sessions and long days at hospitals, Marlise remained by his side, eventually becoming like a second mother.
“It’s a privilege to be able to help him. I would drive him to hospitals and sit for hours until his chemotherapy was finished. I love Donovan to bits,” she said.
Stories like Donovan’s are often difficult to tell because they hold both heartbreak and hope at the same time. There is sadness in knowing that a young man with so much life ahead of him is facing an impossible reality. There is also extraordinary beauty in seeing what happens when people come together to ensure that every day still gives him reasons to smile.
For Tersia Burger, founder and CEO of Stepping Stone Hospice, those moments are an essential part of caring for someone.
“We believe that every person in our care deserves not just comfort and dignity, but also joy and moments that make life feel full, even in the hardest of seasons. We are deeply honoured to walk alongside him on this journey, and humbled beyond words that he calls Stepping Stone his home away from home. We are so grateful to our staff member for organising this out of the goodness of her heart.”
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