Letters to my Grandchild

Hello darling girl, You had your tap dancing exam in April and got excellent marks. Em, its like a miracle to see you stand and walk, let alone dance - and run!  These are things we never imagined that you'd be able to do when you were diagnosed with OI. We are always very grateful for modern treatment that has allowed you to lead a fairly normal life.   Dr Roos has been wonderful, even allowing you to have your treatment at home, rather than going to a hospital for it.   It was Gumpie's birthday on 8th April and our anniversary (53 years 😵) on 12 April.    We had the family for afternoon tea at our house. On the 8th May I flew to Spain with my friend Jenny to walk another Camino route for 3 weeks.   While I was away you entertained Gumpie, taking him out for morning tea. Once again I attached Ellie to my backpack.   For his birthday in May, Tammy gave Mark a voucher to visit a shooting range.  He has always been interested in guns...

 Hello gorgeous! In March you had dinner out with your Mom while Dad had a business dinner Tree Trails: A suppended obstacle course in the tree tops. You were so scared but you did it. Eugene (Clayton's Dad) helped you through the course but you did it all.    And after all that, you ran down the passage from the scullery, slipped on water from the shower and smashed into the side of the linen cupboard, fracturing your arm.  Its the first major fracture you've had for about 11 years.   At the end of March you moved house, again!  The owners of the house in Palm Springs had to sell it so your Mom and Dad found the house in Umhlanga, right next to Reddham, where you will go next year (maybe - if you don't go to America!)This is all the stuff that had to be fitted into your new room.       Gumpie and your Mom took a break from mowing the lawn and  unpacking boxes to watch some cricket               ...

Hello my darling, Its been a busy month. Valentines day, surgery, assesments. Goodness you have done alot.  Valentines Day milkshake with Clayton. You had 5 teeth extracted (including fang) buttons and chains put on 2 upper teeth and a bone cyst removed from you lower jaw.                                                         Friday the 18th of Feb you had jaw and tooth extraction surgery. On your way to theater and back in the ward.  Your class held up a "Get Well Soon Emily" sign and sent it to you. Ready for your school gala End of assements celebratoin with your friends.  Post exam movie night with friends Catori, Caitlyn, Natasha, Airya,Tessa and Gatlin. This will be your last year at this school because next year you'll go to High School.  Its great to have memories of school friends and I hope you keep in touch...

Hello darling Em,  Happy New Year - lets hope that 2022 will be the year we get back to some sort of normal. We stayed in Hulhluwe until the 2nd January. You guys always manage to find tortoises on the road, like this little guy. We spent a long time watching a cheetah family under some bushes near Sontuli loop We had supper next to the pool and then watched Zulu dancing.  You also took part! Summer Holidays  You've got long legs like a model! You spent some time with Clayton Duvenage. You are a cute couple 😉   Fun hangouts with Sam Coleman and Christina Mcloud  We had planned to do the surgery on your jaw and teeth in 2020 but Covid 19 came round and everything was put on hold. New scans had to be taken to see what changes had happened to your jaw with all the growing you've done and now the surgery is planned for Feb 2022. You are getting rid of 'fang' - you are so selfconcious of him.    3D Scans of your Jaw for your upcoming surgery. The surgeon h...

Hello my darling, Another year is coming to an end, and what a year it has been. You passed grade 6 with being home for 3 terms with mom doing homeschool. You actually did really well. You have been back to school for the last term and you are much happier to be with your friends again.  On the 10 of December you had your second 'booster' Covid Vaccination.  'Ouch' Then a HUGE fright!  Alex, Sharon, Greg, Dennis, Rita, Gumpie and I all had covid in the middle of December!!   Fortunately we have all been double vaccinated so didn't have it badly.  I think Rita was most affected and Gumpie the least affected.  I was wpman-down for a night and day when I shivered, sweated, coughed and slept for 24 hours.  After that I felt better but we have all had lingering fatigue and find it challenging to do any chores for any length of time. We moved Christmas to your house to have it outside and Dennis and Rita couldn't come beacuse they were still positive. A...