What do you do when life doesn’t look anything like the picture you planned, when the dream you built suddenly collapses, and the only thing left to hold onto is faith?
In today’s episode of The Transformation Code, we sit down with Savannah Van Der Walt, a Cape Town mother whose journey of faith, resilience, and motherhood will redefine what true strength means.
When Savannah’s daughter Luna was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic disease, doctors said she might never walk. What followed was a powerful story of heartbreak, perseverance, and unconditional love that pushed Savannah far beyond her limits.
This episode explores what it means to find peace when life doesn’t look the way you planned. You’ll hear how one mother turned pain into purpose, how faith carried her through nights in the NICU, and how emotional regulation became her anchor through chaos and uncertainty.
If you’re a parent, caregiver, or anyone navigating adversity, this conversation will help you rediscover hope, healing, and the courage to keep going when life feels impossible.
This episode dives deep into:
• What happens when life doesn’t look the way you planned
• The hidden strength of mothers raising children with special needs
• How trauma, faith, and resilience can exist in the same story
• The power of emotional regulation during crisis
• What it means to rebuild your identity when your dreams change
Watch this if you want to learn:
• How to find peace when life doesn’t match your expectations
• Tools for emotional regulation and mindset resilience
• The strength behind every mother’s invisible battles
• How faith and perspective can turn pain into purpose
• What true transformation looks like when love leads the way
00:00 Intro
00:42 The Call That Changed Everything
01:30 When Life Doesn’t Go the Way You Planned
02:18 The Diagnosis That Shattered a Dream
03:45 Surviving 31 Days in the NICU
05:12 The Moment Everything Fell Apart
06:30 When You Lose the Life You Imagined
08:02 “The Dream Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Changed”
09:44 Learning to Live in Survival Mode
11:16 The Hidden Grief of Motherhood
12:40 When Trauma From Your Past Reappears
14:03 How to Stay Grounded Through Chaos
15:25 Rebuilding Purpose After Pain
17:10 Why Perspective Changes Everything
18:36 The Power of Faith When Nothing Makes Sense
20:02 Emotional Regulation in Real Life
21:34 Finding Strength When You Have No Control
23:06 From Grief to Gratitude, The Turning Point
24:44 The Gift Hidden Inside Pain
26:18 What True Resilience Looks Like
27:59 Infinite Versions of You, The Courage to Begin Again
With gratitude,
Sam Church
Host, The Transformation Code Podcast
Support Luna’s Journey
If this story moved you, you can be part of Luna’s journey too.
Luna Rose was born with a rare genetic condition called Prader-Willi Syndrome, and her fight has inspired thousands across South Africa.
Her family continues to raise funds for her ongoing medical care, therapy, and support through “Luna Rose’s Fight to Inspire”, a verified campaign on BackaBuddy.
Donate here: https://backabuddy.co.za/campaign/luna-roses-fight-to-inspire~10
Every contribution, share, or prayer helps give Luna the care and opportunities she deserves.
Follow Savannah Van Der Walt
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ourloveatfirstlight/
Follow Sam Church
YouTube: @SamChurchOfficial
Instagram: @transformationcodepodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/samchurchuk