LATEST NEWS AND PHOTOS

All pics, (new and old) can now be seen on the Wesley Flavell Flickr gallery here (including pics with Wynand Olivier, Jean de Villiers and Nelson Mandela)

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY

2010 – It is now with baited breath that we await the result of Celebrity Survivor as our dear friend Darren Maule is participating and has choosen us as his charity

2009 - This year Wesley was invited to be part of the Vodacom tries for smiles campaign which meant he spent the morning with Wynand Olivier at Loftus

Wesley was also invited to be part of the Jenna Clifford Dream Big campaign were he hobnobbed with Jenna and Ryk Neetling

The Walter Sisulu Peadeatric Cardic Centre for Africa invited Wesley to their annual Christmas party were Wesley received a talking computer from Santa.

In October 2008 Wesley was invited to the Albertina Sisulu’s 90th birthday party held in Sandton, were the mystery surprise guest was Nelson Mandela. There only 10 children at the function of about 500 guests so the kids were invited onto the stage to meet Nelson Mandela.

In November 2007 Wesley was invited to the annual sponsors lunch were the VIP guest Albertina Sisulu and guest of honor Jean De Villers joined us (will send photos under separate cover

2005 – In April unfortunately Wesley had a stroke and diagnosed as a left hemaplegic.

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October 2004
Dale and Ken have kept their promise of continuing to raise funds for any Zimbabwe heart baby who needs financial help and are very busy organising the first Wesley Flavell Foundation Golf Day which is due to take place on 25th November 2004. Two Trustees have been appointed to administer the Fund, namely Craig Schneeberger and Ross Taggart. We have attached the appeal for this golf day for your interest.

July 2004
Very sadly little Andreas Olympios passed away. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family. We are only pleased that the foundation could help in a small way while he was fighting for his life thanks to all of you.

End February 2004
Dale and Ken took the huge decision of leaving Zimbabwe and moving their family down to South Africa so that they could be nearer to Wesley’s doctors. At the end of February 2004 they packed up and moved down South.

This move has proved to be very successful. The family now live on a small farm 10kms north of Four Ways. Wesley and his sister Sasha attend the Broadacres Farm School and are both extremely happy there as you can see from Wesley’s first ever school picture.

Dale is working with her sister Robyn and Ken is busy farming which he loves.

Being close to Dr Harrisberg has given everybody great peace of mind.

17th February 2004
Today is a very special milestone in little Wesley’s life. He has reached the grand age one!!! He would not have reached this stage of his life without your kindness, generosity and prayers. We also cannot forget the incredible skills of the surgeon and all the doctors involved plus the nursing staff at the Sunninghill Hospital and thank them all sincerely. The little man keeps in remarkably good health for which we continue to be eternally grateful. His really is a miracle child. Thanks again – more news later!!

12th February 2004
The Wesley Flavell Heart Trust has made a donation of R20,000 to Andreas Olympios from Zimbabwe to assist in the payment of his Glenn Shunt operation in South Africa. The good news is that he survived the operation and is doing well.

21st January 2004
Very sadly we heard the bad news that a suitable heart donor could not be found in time and Maketzi passed away. Our condolences go to his family.

25th December 2003
We were so incredibly lucky that Wes could be with the entire family and we had a really wonderful Christmas with him. Here is a photograph of the little guy enjoying his first Christmas.

17th December 2003
Wesley was befriended by a wonderful young boy in the hospital called Maketzi. Maketzi was at the bottom end of heart failure and was not responding to his medication any more. He was waiting for a suitable donor for a heart transplant. He was tired, bored and very lonely as his Mother had to work and could not be with him all the time. To help him pass the time the Wesley Flavell Heart Trust bought him a Gameboy which was kindly given to us at a discounted price from Toys ‘R Us in Fourways Crossing. The photograph you see is of the generous manager and assistant. The Wesley Flavell Heart Trust was also able to organise a Multichoice satellite connection to help brighten Maketzi’s days.

9th December 2003
What a happy happy day. Wesley came home!! Great celebrations were held for Wesley’s homecoming only 3 weeks after his major surgery. Thank the universe he does not need any more operations. As you know the doctors were able to do both of his operations in one. We are told that he is one of, if not the youngest baby ever to have had both operations done at the same time. What a star!

Johannesburg 25 November 2003
Fate played it's hand in the most wonderful way during Wesley's operation. Dr Kingsley, the surgeon, decided to perform both operations at the same time. Wesley's strength was enough for him to make this decision.

The consequence of this decision is that Wesley will not require any further surgery and we are eternally grateful for this. The does mean though that his recovery will take a little longer than expected.

However, you can't keep a good man down. Our little miracle man has such fighting instincts that he is off the respirator as well as the dialysis machine already. The doctors expect that all of his drains will be removed to-morrow and he will then be moved directly into to Paedeatric ward - bypassing the Neo Natal ICU.

The past period has been an extremely stressful one for all the family but we could not have hoped for a better outcome for Wesley.

Thank you all once again for your incredible support, care and love. Without your prayers and love we would have floundered.

PIC OF WES AT HOSPITAL FOR OPERATION AT THE TOP ON THE LEFT

20th November 2003
D-day has arrived and various prayer circles have been organised for Wesley. Rosemary Cross, a reflexologist has managed to organise a world wide prayer circle with participants from South Africa, Holland, Germany, America and other countries. Mandy Muller is arranging a prayer circle in Johannesburg. We are extremely grateful to both of these wonderful people.

19th November 2003
Wesley sees Dr Harrisberg at 10:30 am and will then be admitted into hospital for a series of tests. Wes's mom will stay with him overnight. We will know today what time the operation is scheduled for.

21st October 2003
Brooksfield Brokers in Johannesburg held a golf day for Wesley and to date R55,000 has been deposited into Wes's account from the day. More information and photographs to follow shortly.

16 October 2003
NEW PICS - Scroll down page to see new pics on the left at the bottom.

23 September 2003
Dr Harrisberg was very pleased with Wesley's progress when he examined him on the 8th September.

As Wesley is on track, the doctors have set a date of 20th November for his first open heart surgery

15 September 2003
Savanna tobacco have kindly offered to donate Z$20.00 towards Wesley's operation for every Kilogram of farm stem delivered to their factory. An initial price of Z$130.00 will be paid to the farmer with a guaranteed back payment to the farmer should the price of stem rise. For every 500,000 kgs delivered to Savanna Tobacco an additional Z$5,000,000.00 (five million) will be paid toward Wesley's operation. Estimates show that there is approximately 4,000,000 kgs of farm stem this year. If half of this stem is delivered to Savanna Tobacco, the cost of Wesley's operation should be met. We appeal to all farmers to help towards Wesley's operation to enable him to live a normal life.

Deliveries can be made directly to Savanna Tobacco,16,5 km peg, Simon Mazorodze Road (4km past Zitac Masvingo Road) Monday to Friday. Farmers should clearly state that the delivery is towards Wesley's heart appeal, grower's number, payment details and postal address.

Contact details:
Nick Havercrodft - 011 601 117
Mike Gaisford - 091 343 766
Rosie Gaisford - 091 311 534
Linda Bromley 04 301 537

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14 September 2003
Wesley Flavell Fund Raising Golf Days
Johannesburg

On Tuesday 9th September 120 golfers gathered at Centurion Park on a beautiful Highveld spring day to participate in what was to prove a super fun day with magnificent prizes which were all donations.

After the prize giving Craig Rheeder reverted to his previous occupation as an auctioneer and raised an enormous amount of money for the fund. The lots on the auction were also generously donated.

All the raffle tickets for the wheelbarrow of booze were sold raising R5,200. The winner kindly gave the prize back to be auctioned, which was finally sold for an incredible R10,000 thus raising R15,200 for the barrow of booze alone.

The day was a fabulous success thanks for all the hard work of Billy, Shona and Robyn together with the backroom helpers.

Thanks also to Craig who arranged most of the 4 balls and for Wesley’s grandfather to be in South Africa for both the golf days at Centurion Park and the Harare Country Club.

An amazing R60,000 was raised for the Wesley Flavell Heart Trust.

Zimbabwe

The golf day on 12th September at the Harare Country Club was organised by Kerry, Jane, Candy, Les & Mike with the use of the course donated by the Club.

Being Friday, everybody arrived in great spirits further fuelled by the Blue and Red Bugs Shooters which were sold on both tees.

Gin tents out on the course kept the alcohol level high enough to not let the odd poor shot spoil the day with most of the full quota of Mulligans were used.

Again the donated prizes and the auction lots were top drawer. The very successful day raised an awesome Z$11,000,000.

The evening disco went on until the early hours of the morning, compliments of Glen and Graham, who once again donated their equipment and time to Wesley.

The organisers hard work paid handsome dividends for the Wesley Flavell Heart Trust.