Helping Hand

The second wish today is from Leonie Combrink, for her son Conrad, and his wife Antoinette. Conrad and Antoinette have a five year old daughter and triplets, two boys and a girl, who will turn one years old on 29 November. Antoinette is a stay-at-home mom, as the cost of a crèche is too high, and any income she may get from working will be used up on the crèche fees and transport. As with any young couple starting out, they have quite a lot of debt to pay off , especially with the financial burden of raising triplets, and rarely buy themselves any luxuries.

Four children go through a lot of clothing, and Antoinette spends most of her day doing the laundry. LG are sponsoring a LG front loader washing machine, a LG tumble dryer, one year’s supply of Omo Auto washing powder, five vouchers for Fabric softener, and five vouchers for Vaseline, all essential items with young children.

A Fairytale Ending

The first wish this morning is from Jane Kennard, for her friends Jacques Thornton and his fiancée Amanda Lenders. Jane says that once every couple of years, we meet someone who really inspires us, someone who, despite all the odds life throws at them, manages to stand strong and remain positive and grateful for all the good things life throws their way. On the very rare occasion, two people with these traits cross paths, and the combination is both spectacular and contagious. Jacques was diagnosed with cancer four years ago at the age of 24. He fought the disease with everything he had, and after months of chemo, hundreds of injections, endless days of nausea and trips to the hospital, he received the news that the cancer was in remission.

Things were looking up for Jacques, his life was back on track, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He started his own design company and met his soul mate and love of his life, Amanda. In July this year he proposed to Amanda, and for days afterwards they both walked around with goofy smiles wrapped around their faces. They started to plan the wedding of their dreams on the banks of the Vaal, followed by a honeymoon cruise.

However, mere weeks later, their world came crashing down when Jacques got the news that his cancer was back and was spreading rapidly through his lymphatic system. It was déjà vu for the couple, but the wedding and promised future with Amanda was a light at the end of the tunnel. The chemo started and the hundreds of injections and numerous trips to the hospital, and the bills started piling up. The wedding had to be postponed, and then postponed again and again.

Jacques may have started losing his hair, but not his zest for life, and through all of the trials has remained optimistic about the future. Amanda has been his rock, his nurse, his support system and his chauffeur throughout it all. Jane says that as a couple they have taught us all a few lessons in life, and given everybody a new appreciation for life, love, friends and family. All they want is a fairytale ending. The knight in shining armour is Avianto. They did not for one minute hesitate in granting Amanda and Jacques their Christmas Wish, a Dream Wedding at Avianto. But what is a wedding without the dress, invitations, wedding cake, confetti, photographs, décor, flowers and more? Avianto have also contacted their preferred suppliers, and received an overwhelming response. Amanda and Jacques will not have to worry about a thing. The list of suppliers is long, but their wedding coordinator, Avianto Soiree, will handle their wedding from A – Z. Thanks go to Marriage Meander, Lady Marmalade, LCT Luxury Limousines, Paper Rose, Cartolina, Devine Delights, Classy Candle Hire Functions Décor and Draping, Chelly B Functions, Blast Entertainment, Synergy AV, Sound Worx, Shattered Glass Group, CK Make-up, Lyn Reece, David John, Janell Donders, Francois Joubert, Jaco Venter, Ryan Hogart, Exclusive Studio, WM Studios, Patric Furter, Christiaan David, DVI, Red Squirrel and Final Touch for volunteering their services for the fairytale wedding.

Additionally, Starlight Cruises are going to send them on a honeymoon cruise, wherever and whenever they want to go.