Local woman’s dream of helping special needs children becomes a reality

Deep within the heart of Sundowner lies Bella’s Blessings—a haven where children’s laughter mixes with the caregivers’ love. It stands as a beacon of light offering a home, care, and support to special needs children. Under the visionary guidance of Lauren Matthewson-Woolard, this non-profit organisation aims to make a positive difference in the lives of these children, offering them a chance at a brighter future despite the challenges they may face.

Matthewson-Woolard, founder of Bella’s Blessings, traces the roots of her journey back to her childhood, where her deep desire to make a difference first began. Reflecting on her earliest memories, she recalled envisioning a world where every child had access to education, love, and a safe haven away from the harsh realities of the streets. “One of my earliest memories as a little girl is of sitting in the back of my mom’s car and thinking on the way to school that one day there will no longer be children sitting at traffic lights on pavements because they would all be in school – my school.”

However, it wasn’t until her twenties, when she became a qualified teacher and met a little girl named Chloe, that her calling truly crystallised. Chloe, who suffered from cerebral palsy, became her first foster child. Tragically, Chloe’s unexpected passing in 2018 was a turning point for Lauren Matthewson-Woolard, pushing her towards a new purpose. “Bella was the nickname I called Chloe. When I lost her, my core changed – what was once important held little value and so began another difficult shift.”

With determination and a belief in divine guidance, she opened her heart and home to a succession of foster babies and toddlers, including Ava-Mae, Thomas William, Olivia Grace, and Sydney Rose and called them Bella’s Blessings.

“Ava joined our family at the age of three weeks when her mom reached out through a friend for help. Ava is now nearly three, and is as bright as a button.

“Thomas joined us on the day that South Africa’s hard lockdown began. When we collected him from social workers, he was a bundle of tight spasms caused by his cerebral palsy and increased muscle tone. He is now three years old and is a happy boy whose laugh is contagious.

“Olivia Grace was seven months old when she joined our family. The children’s home where she had initially been placed refused to have her as she had been diagnosed as having cerebral palsy. She is now sitting, crawling and learning to walk and speak.”

In October, Sydney Rose, who had spent 10 weeks in the NICU joined their family. “I received a call from Olivia’s social worker asking if I could please assist with a premature baby who needed to be discharged. A couple hours later were home with a very tiny little bundle who melted us all in seconds.”

By providing a home for these children, Matthewson-Woolard has created a beacon of hope in the community. “Our dream has continued to grow and has become a home that is called upon often to help with special needs babies and toddlers who need a place of safety and is now home to four foster children full time. We have applied to register our NPO, Bella’s Blessings, with the Department of Social Development in order to continue what we have been doing – hopefully on a greater scale.”

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