Help Us Give Our Grandmother a Peaceful Goodbye

Hi, my name is Andrew, and I'm reaching out with the heaviest yet most grateful heart.

On December 21st, 2000, my world changed forever. At just 11 years old, my sisters and I lost our mother suddenly to a drug overdose. With no father around, we were three children—alone, frightened, and broken. But then, our grandmother, who was already 70 years old and retired, did something extraordinary. She took us in and raised us as her own.

She gave up everything—her quiet life, her comfort, and her golden years—not out of obligation, but out of love. Pure, selfless love.

She never once thought of herself. Every cent she had went toward putting food on the table, school uniforms on our backs, and hope in something. I can still remember begging her to buy herself new clothes or even just get her hair done, but she’d always find a reason not to. Deep down, we knew why—she was saving every little bit for us.

Today, we are adults doing our best to make her proud, but we owe everything—everything—to her.

We live in South Africa, where end-of-life care options are incredibly limited unless you can afford private support. Five months ago, doctors told us she had one month to live. She’s now 93, her body frail, her memory fading—but her will to live is still strong. We believe she's holding on because she wants to stay with us—her family.

Her greatest wish is to remain at home, surrounded by the people she gave everything for—not to spend her final days in a care facility that would feel cold, frightening, and unfamiliar. But now she needs 24-hour care, and despite everything we’ve tried, we simply can’t afford it on our own.

We’ve used every cent we have to make her final months as peaceful and full of love as possible—but we’re running out of time and resources. We are asking—pleading—for your help.

No donation is too small. Every bit helps us move closer to giving her the comfort, dignity, and peace she deserves. This is more than financial support—it’s a tribute to a woman who sacrificed her life to save three children.

If you’ve ever known a love that gave everything, expected nothing, and held a family together, then you’ve known someone like our grandmother.

Please help us honor her life with the kindness she spent her's giving.

With love and deep gratitude,

Andrew, Lauren, and Jodie

South Africa