Dreams do come true

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Reach For A Dream Foundation is still alive and well and helping children's dreams come true.

Its website states its mandate: "Inspiring hope in children suffering from life-threatening illnesses is what we do."

Last week, Mossel Bay's Zoë Strydom's dream came true when a beautifully decorated wooden playhouse was set up in her yard in the suburb of Heiderand.

It is likely many girls' dream to have one.

The special delivery and installation took place on Thursday, 10 March.

Zoë (4) suffers from biliary atresia and had a liver transplant in February 2018. Biliary atresia is a blockage in the tubes which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. The bile ducts do not develop normally. It is not known why the biliary system does not develop normally.

When Zoë was in hospital in Johannesburg in 2018, hospital staff mentioned her condition to Reach For A Dream.

A George company built the playhouse for Zoë.

Zoë's mom, Zendra said: "Zoë was incredibly excited when the playhouse was delivered. She asked for it in November last year." With Reach For A Dream children must be old enough to make their own decision on their dream.

Zendra noted: "Zoë is doing really well at the moment. Last year she only had to go to Johannesburg once. We have a paediatrician in Mossel Bay looking after her. She takes anti-rejection medication so that her body does not reject the liver."

Zoë lives with her mom, her dad Gerhard and an older brother (8) and younger sister (1).

Michelle van Huyssteen, Reach For A Dream branch manager, Gqeberha and Garden Route, said: "They are a wonderful family who have had to face many challenges with Zoë's diagnosis. The privilege to fulfil a dream for brave little Zoë inspired and touched me deeply."

She said that besides the Wendy house company a family trust was the donor that made the dream come true.

Zoë Strydom and Michelle van Huyssteen.