Help Vanessa stay at Aurora Special Care

My name is Lyn Whitney and I am raising funds for my daughter, Vanessa. Vanessa has autism, severe mental retardation and epilepsy. I am unable to pay for her monthly costs at Aurora Care Centre and am seeking to raise funds to keep her in the home. Her fees are R10197.00 per month. I contribute my entire pension towards her care but I have a shortfall of R7000.00 per month. I am very concerned about this and whenever I am able I contribute extra to assist.

Even a small monthly contribution would be most graciously received.

Her story:

Vanessa seemed like your average little girl but at the age of two, it was clear that something was different about her. I, Vanessa’s mom, realized that her development was not on par with that of other 2-year-olds.

I then took her to Red Cross Children’s Hospital for tests to be done and it was found that Vanessa has brain irregularities. Further assessments were done and Vanessa was medically diagnosed with Autism, Severe Mental Retardation (the rarest and most severe form of intellectual disability that affects under 2% of individuals diagnosed with mental retardation), and Epilepsy.

Vanessa attended day care from the age of 2 to 14 and spent the next three years of her life in state care. Thereafter she was referred to Aurora Special Care Centre for admission in 2007. Vanessa became part of the Aurora family and has been there for the past 13 years of her life.

Vanessa will be 32 years old this year (2021) and will never be able to function independently on any level. She is wholly reliant on the 24-hour care rendered to her by the Aurora Special Care Centre. Vanessa’s father has passed away and the money left to her has since been depleted.

I am in desperate need of YOUR help to ensure that my precious daughter can continue receiving treatment at Aurora. I am 70 years old and am currently working two jobs- and even this is not sufficient. As any parent can understand, I want to see my daughter safe, happy and cared for- but I can’t do it alone.

I thank you for reading my daughter’s story and I pray that you open up your heart to assist her in any way possible.

The picture on the right was taken as a "before and after picture". Before she was admitted to Aurora and two weeks after being admitted to Aurora. The photo speaks for itself.