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Heart Beats for Jared

Heart Beats for Jared

Funds Raised:
R 19 493
Fundraising Target:
R 300 000

Personal message

Our son, Jared was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the age of four. He is quite high functioning, meaning that he can read, write and talk well, but not without some difficulty.
 
At that young age, every milestone was delayed. Walking and talking took much longer than your average child. We were fortunate at that time to get him the necessary therapy, which made a huge difference to his and our quality of life.
 
For the next few years we did the best we could regarding schooling for him, but as a family we were starting to feel the ill effects of a struggling economy, spiking interest rates, fuel prices that were going through the roof, and to make matters worse, Covid came in 2020.
 
My wife lost her job, Jared couldn't go to school for a few months, and when the school re-opened, he simply didn't want to go back. Even if he did want to go back, we could no longer afford to take him.
 
Life in so many ways started to become very difficult and extremely stressful. My wife home-schooled Jared for the next year, but didn't really have the expertise to do this well. She has since found part-time employment which has lessened our financial struggles somewhat, and Jared has been in a special needs school, but unfortunately not a school that has helped him grow and excel. In fact, he has regressed. The only reason he was there was because we couldn't really afford anything better. Our son has potential and deserves so much more.
 
In addition to his ASD he has OCD, ODD, ADD, and he doesn't sleep well, which means we also don't sleep well. He struggles socially, he has no friends, he has multiple outbursts/meltdowns per day. At age 15 he still wets the bed at night and has started harming himself. On the flip-side Jared loves to play the drums and listen to music. On his good days he is friendly, helpful and very articulate.
 
Jared's condition puts a huge strain on us as a family, strain that has become quite unbearable at times. We have tried to get help from various government sectors, but with no success. We have been told by doctors and specialists that Jared's condition is complicated, which we are well aware of, but nobody has come forward to help or assist in our plight to help him become the best he can be.
 
Thanks to the funds we have already raised (as at 11 Feb 2024) with this Backabuddy account, we have enrolled Jared at Triad Schools in Cowies Hill, Pinetown. He is slowly settling in and getting used to the routine. The staff at the school are well-equipped to deal with Jared and all his intricacies, and we are hopeful that we will witness a positive change in Jared, in the weeks and months to come. Jared is also being assessed for suitability of boarding options which will be beneficial to his development and allow him to bond with like-minded friends outside of the school environment.
 
Our current financial state makes it impossible for us to afford the schooling and boarding for the year ahead. Not only are the fees quite high, but Jared's medications and doctors visits added to the mix, just puts us in a situation where we don't know where to turn.  Even though my wife and I have multiple jobs to bring in additional income, as well as both of us being in ministry, we simply cannot cover the high costs of raising and educating Jared in a meaningful way. 
 
We are humbly reaching out, asking for help as we have reached the end of ourselves. Thank you for taking the time to read our story.
 
We have set the donation limit starting at R200, but for those who cannot afford R200, there is a "custom" box where you can choose your own amount. For those who would prefer to donate a set monthly amount, there is an option to select a recurring donation for up to 24 months. Whichever or however you choose to donate, please know that we appreciate your generosity so much!
 
Howie and Janine van Rooi.

Donations

  • Feb 20, 2024 - R 5 000.00 Fees covered
  • "" - Anonymous
  • Feb 15, 2024 - R 200.00 Fees covered
  • "" - Anonymous
  • Feb 04, 2024 - R 500.00 Fees covered
  • "All the best Howie & Janine with Jared 🙏" - Nigel
  • Feb 02, 2024 - R 200.83 Fees covered
  • "Blessings Jared and Famiky" - Anonymous
  • Jan 31, 2024 - R 500.00 Fees covered
  • "❤️" - Anonymous
  • Jan 26, 2024 - USD $ 114.37 Fees covered
  • "Numbers 6:24-26 KJV The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." - Anonymous
  • Jan 25, 2024 - R 150.00 Fees covered
  • "" - Anonymous
  • Jan 24, 2024 - R 200.00 Fees covered
  • "" - Anonymous
  • Jan 22, 2024 - R 400.00 Fees covered
  • "" - Anonymous
  • Jan 22, 2024 - R 5 000.00
  • "" - Anonymous
  • Jan 22, 2024 - R 5 000.00
  • "" - Anonymous
  • Jan 22, 2024 - R 200.00 Fees covered
  • "" - Anonymous
  • Jan 22, 2024 - R 250.00 Fees covered
  • "" - Anonymous

Statistics

Fundraising target

R 300 000.00

Donations to date

R 19 492.78

Heart Beats for Jared Campaign

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Our son, Jared, diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at four, faces challenges exacerbated by economic struggles and the impact of COVID-19; we seek support to provide him with specialized education, respite care, and medical assistance in the face of financial hardship and limited government aid.