Five of the most feel-good stories of 2018
FOURWAYS – 2018 has been a long year. Although there has been some bad news over the last 12 months – fires, petrol increases, the reintroduction of load shedding – there's also been some good news.
We at the Fourways Review have put together a list of the top five feel-good news stories published by our newspaper this year.
1. Published Week ending 23 February, 21 000 cupcakes in aid of needy children
Little Aidan from Bryanston is the second South African to ever be diagnosed with Costello syndrome, a rare disorder which only affects a few hundred people worldwide and affects many parts of the body.
Although Melissa Botha, Aidan’s mom, launched a line of cupcake premixes in 2011 to help finance Aidan’s medical care, in 2018 she also decided to form a foundation to help other families with special needs children overcome financial challenges to their care.
2. Published Week ending 4 May, Understanding the importance of guide dogs
In honour of International Guide Dogs Day, the Fourways Review’s very own Masego Seemela braved the streets of Rosebank – while blindfolded and with the aid of a guide dog named Emmet – to get a better understanding of the important work these animals do for the visually impaired every day. “As I reached the end of my journey, I took off my blindfold and burst into tears,” Seemela said of the experience.
“It was then that I really appreciated the gift of sight and the very important job that SA Guide-Dogs does on a daily basis.”
3. Published Week ending 22 June, Mother dog on the road to recovery
Penny, the injured stray dog rescued with her two puppies from a scrap yard and brought to Ark Animal Centre in June, had a hard start in life but has since found love and friendship.
Besides being homeless, she was found with a badly injured leg that eventually needed to be amputated due to the damage and pain.
“When Penny arrived she was terrified and aggressive. We actually had to muzzle her,” explained Candice Eilertsen, marketing manager for the centre.
“Her operation went phenomenally well. Already in recovery, we could see she was far more comfortable and in less pain. She’s since adapted very quickly to walking on three legs.”
Thanks to the love and support from the community, Penny received the love she’s always needed and has since been adopted into a forever home.
4. Published Week ending 28 September, These cats deserve to live with dignity
When two feral cats – a mother and son – started living under the roof of one of the buildings at HeronBridge College, they probably expected the same level of kindness from humans that they had experienced their whole lives: None.
But they and the other ferals discovered in the school grounds were pleasantly surprised. Roz Wood, the English head of department began feeding them, setting up feeding stations and seeing that they receive veterinary care when needed.
5. Published Week ending 23 November, Organisation ‘grows people, not trees’
The Hlumelelisa non-profit organisation, started by Lonehill resident Paul Bruns in 2003, has spent years teaching sentenced offenders the skills to survive and thrive in the outside world through an accredited horticultural course.
Motivated by the belief in second chances, Hlumelelisa works with those in correctional facilities across the province, including with 36 currently held at the Leeuwkop Correctional Facility in Kyalami.
