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The Most Amazing Story – Missing Relative Ferreted out After 31 Years

7/16/2017

20 Comments

 
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Living in a country where daily news reports are composed of the shenanigans of corrupt politicians and government officials, where even Sports has lost its power to capture a nation, the slightest piece of good news is viewed as 'amazing'.
 
Not that the following news falls under ‘minor good news’! To the contrary, it is one of those rare events that is considered ‘miraculous’.
 
Anyone who has an idea how deep the love of a mother is, and how strong the bonds that exist between relatives are – whether they are broken or not – will find it hard to keep tears from blurring their vision. 
 
I am not ashamed to admit that I am crying my heart out with my happiness for this family, and this clear evidence that hope and patience are never in vain. 

The most amazing story

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Thirty-one years ago - in February 1986 - twenty-two year old Dennis Vivian Haynes left his home in Bloemfontein for a job interview in Roodepoort, a town bordering Johannesburg. It was still relatively safe to lay down the distance of 400km (±250 miles) at the mercy of kind-hearted motorists willing to accommodate a hitch hiker. Dennis was supposed to be home within a week or two, hopefully to organize his permanent move to Roodepoort.     
 
But sadly, Dennis never reached his destination.  His wife and one-year old daughter, his mother, who had dropped him next to the main road from where he would hike to Roodepoort, and the rest of his family waited in vain for his return. Eventually they were compelled to report him missing.

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For some or another unacceptable reason the police couldn’t find him. Dennis was gone, and most probably dead.  
 
In the meantime the most unbelievable thing had happened to Dennis. He was involved in a car accident, and he had lost his memory. Having no proof of his birth, and no money, and perhaps no proper guidance, Dennis was not able to get a new ID-document. He found himself trapped in the world of the homeless, at the mercy of social workers and kind-hearted people.
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His wife got married again, and life went on.

31 Years later  
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In an umpteenth attempt to find Dennis a friend of his sister Desiree recently created a page on Facebook: Bring Dennis Home. She stocked it with photos and pleads for links that may lead to his whereabouts.   
Meanwhile up north in Pretoria a social worker named Ruth Jacobs shared on her page, People Do Care, a picture of the homeless Francois Venter holding wooden figurines he had made with wood and reed. “Our entrepreneur of the evening! He makes the most beautiful thingies out of wood and reed. He sleeps at Blue Bull Paints. He puts no prices on his work. He only asks for donations,” was the caption.
 
Someone - Natasha Tetluk – saw the resemblance between Francois and the missing Dennis, and this resulted into the most moving reunion between mother and son.  

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A thank-you note from the Haynes family

The Haynes family would like to graciously thank so many who participated in the recent search for Dennis.

We need to start by thanking everyone. Family and friends, Natasha Tetluk who recognised him, People Do Care who helped to locate him, Winny and Rick who groomed him and took him to their home for the weekend, Stacey who arranged safe accommodation for the week, people who kept him safe while we waited for the DNA results, detectives from missing persons unit in Bloemfontein and Pretoria and everyone that prayed and assisted in finding him. Thank you for all your support in finding Dennis.

Dennis is now back where he belongs. He receives help and support from all the amazing people he has in his life, as he will now be working hard to get his life back on track.

To the public we want to say a special thank you from the bottom of our hearts. So many of you have shared the missing person poster and articles, offered your heartfelt words of support and followed every step of the journey on our Bring Dennis Home group. We have seen your messages and felt your acts of kindness.
A VIDEO of the reunion between Dennis and his mother is available HERE...
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Fltr: Dennis, his sister, Desiree, and a family friend, Lisa

The next gripping reunion
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Dennis still has to meet his daughter, and this will be the next gripping reunion. Sadly, her stepfather died a week before Dennis’ and his mother’s reunion.

Without being disrespectful, one cannot help but wonder if Dennis and his wife of thirty-one years ago will grab the opportunity to continue their marriage that was so unfortunately ended by Fate.   

​Until next week,
Hugs,
Martie

ShoutOuts:

By Angelia Phillips - Wabash-traditions
By Maria Jordan - On-schizophrenia
By Rolly . A-day-on-the-river
By Vicki Warner - Carrotsand-a-nasty-little-fly
By horsebiscuits.- The-battle-continues
​
By Bill Holland - The-Writers-Mailbag
20 Comments
Gail Sobotkin
7/18/2017 04:47:51 pm

What a beautiful story. So glad he got reunited with family. Blessings, Gail

Reply
Martie link
7/18/2017 10:56:33 pm

Absolutely amazing! Blessings to you, too, dear Gail.

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Vicki link
7/18/2017 05:02:05 pm

Hi Martie,

That is a lovely story. Everyone must have been so delighted. Wonder why he slipped through the cracks originally, when he had the accident? That's the biggest question. You'd think there would have been a court case, and if there were posters that some of the original health care providers, public, etc would have taken care to identify him.
Anyway, I'm glad it ended happily.
Thanks for the shoutout. Always appreciated!
Hugs, Vicki

Reply
Martie link
7/18/2017 11:10:56 pm

Vicki, you must have noticed the word 'unacceptable' in a specific sentence. Perhaps there were not sufficient funds to launch a private search, which would included the print and spreading of posters. So, they could only rely on the Police. And this brings me back to the word unacceptable, because I suspect the police did not do what they were supposed to do. Anyway, my writers brain produced quite a few scenarios regarding the accident. This could be a captivating novel with a happy ending.

Take care, dear Vicki :)

Reply
William Holland link
7/18/2017 05:11:27 pm

Well that just left me grinning from ear to ear. What a great story. Thanks for sharing, Martie!

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Martie link
7/18/2017 11:12:54 pm

Great is the word, William! I would even call it a miracle. Take care!

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Nellieanna Hay link
7/18/2017 05:44:12 pm

Such a touching, inspiring story!

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Martie link
7/18/2017 11:17:07 pm

Nellieanna, I put myself in the shoes of the mother and wife. Not knowing whether my child/husband is alive or dead will surely drive me crazy. How long does it take to reach the point of acceptance? Hugs :)

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Mike
7/18/2017 06:38:13 pm

Hello Martie - What a fantastic story. Fact is always better than fiction. This is such a fine story, with many complications ahead.

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Martie link
7/18/2017 11:25:05 pm

Hi Mike - I see them, and I hope that the family will conquer them all one day at a time.

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Rolly A. Chabot link
7/18/2017 07:12:55 pm

Hello Martie...
Wow what an amazing story this is and I thank you for sharing. Like the many who have seen this I have tears of much joy at seeing the heartfelt reunion. I can see this as being a movie or a great book someday.
Excellent post here and I thank you for sharing it with us...

Hugs and Blessings from Canada

Reply
Martie link
7/18/2017 11:28:28 pm

Hello Rolly - As I've said, my writer's brain has already produced a story with plot and all. Events like these give wings to my imagination. Only best wishes to you from SA.

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Sannel Larson link
7/19/2017 12:27:56 pm

Dear Martie,

Wow, that's a miraculous story! Gave me goosebumps just reading about it, and seeing the emotional meeting between the mother and son had me reaching for the handkerchiefs. I would love to see the reunion with his wife and daughter. So odd that the stepfather would die just a week before their reunion, talk about eerie.
Thank you for an uplifting post, dear friend!
Love and hugs,
Sannel

Reply
Martie link
7/19/2017 10:18:27 pm

Dear Sannel, eerie is the word! I honestly hope that nothing will hamper this family in their efforts to mend all broken bonds. Thank you so much for coming by and also for sharing on Twitter. Hugs galore to you :)

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Angelia Phillips link
7/20/2017 04:31:47 am

Martie,

Wow!!! What a wonderful story!! I'm so happy for this family!!

You're so awesome right about this situation being golden. With so much going wrong in the world, it feels wonderful to see some good in the news. 💖

Reply
Martie link
7/20/2017 10:21:06 pm

Dear Angelia - Good news in SA is as scarce as water in a desert, and therefore we marvel at the merest <3

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Maria link
7/20/2017 03:09:48 pm

Dear Martie,

This type of story warms the heart and has my brain going in a million directions.

Thank you for sharing this miraculous story. Wishing the best for Dennis and his family. Love, mar

Reply
Martie link
7/20/2017 10:25:48 pm

Mar, I find it easy to put myself in the shoes of Dennis' mother. I hope with all my heart that Dennis will exceed all her expectations. Hugs <3

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Rasma Raisters link
7/21/2017 09:37:52 am

A most amazing and heartwarming story.

Reply
Martie link
7/28/2017 09:33:34 pm

Absolutely, Rasma! Thanks for coming by :)

Reply



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