Happy Six Month Birthday, Rachel

Today was Rachel’s 6-month Birthday. Just before five we all gathered at Dubai Hospital, room 434, to celebrate this joyous event. The birthday party theme was obvious – “Princesses”. We had pictures of Princess Jasmin (from Aladdin), Princess Aerial (i.e. “The Little Mermaid”), Princess Snow White, Princess Cinderella and Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) all over the place.

Elaine had baked a beautiful pink marble cake, and together with her, Richard, James, Dad, Ma, Angela, Nathan and I all thanked The Lord together for the past six months we’ve enjoyed with our “Little Princess”

Rachel looked lovely in her Birthday dress and even sat up straight all on her own (which she started doing this week) for the occasion.

We didn’t have too many games, but the one that kept us all busy was the balloon blowing competition. It ended up a tie between Richard and everyone else, as no-one was able to blow up a single “Balloon Sculpturing” balloon, and with no hand pump we were left with no other option.

Later in the evening Pastor Daniel (Splett) joined Angela and I and we enjoyed another cake and prayed together and Thanked God for His wonderful ways and for the gift of Rachel who we’ve been privilege to love and enjoy since her birth, 30th March 2004.

Click on the picture for all the photos …

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Back to Hospital

This morning we had an early appointment at Rashid Hospital for Rachel – Dr Badriya said that Rachel’s liver and spleen are severely enlarged and suggested we re-admit her at Dubai hospital for some more tapping – Her girth was 50cm and she was noticeably uncomfortable and struggled to breath.

We headed to Dubai hospital and admitted our little patient again, and by around 3pm Dr Nadia had drained another 190 mls of fluid from the usual spot, just left of Rachel’s belly-button.

Ma will spend this evening with Rachel in hospital …

Dorothy Sayers writes

For whatever reason God chose to make man as he is—limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death—He had the honesty and courage to take His own medicine. Whatever games he is playing with his creation, he has kept his own rules and played fair.

He can exact nothing from man that he has not exacted from himself. He has himself gone through the whole of human experience, from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat, despair, and death. When he was a man, he played the man. He was born in poverty and died in disgrace and thought it well worthwhile.

[Dorothy Sayers; Christian letters to a post Christian world pg 14]

Show and Tell

For “Show and Tell” today at school Nathan took a family picture and told everyone about his baby sister Rachel and that she’s a bit yellow and sick and has a big, big tummy. He also came home and told us all about his friend, “Wha-whi-wham” (i.e. William)

Nathan also made this “bootiful butterfly” using a coffee filter …

Rachel had a happy day at home, smiling and laughing and enjoying being with Dad, Ma, Nathan and Angela (and of course me when I got home from work)

Thank you!

We would just like to thank everyone so much for the wonderful way in which you are all praying and supporting us.

In particular we’d like to thank our Church Family at UCCD for taking us in and loving us, for always being concerned and helping us keep our faith in our God and Father, Jesus Christ.

Words can not even begin to express how much we appreciate ALL of you all over the world for your love, support and encouragement at this difficult time in our lives. May our Lord bless you all. We thank the Lord for you all.

God bless you all!

Love
Roy, Angela, Nathan and Rachel.

First Day of School!

Today Nathan went to “school” for the first time … Well, not really school, just a playgroup, and only on Sundays and Tuesdays from 8am to 1pm, but it’s pretty close to the real thing.

Miss Kay has no more than 10 children, all around Nathan’s age visit her daily. Nathan had a real good time and came home with a bread he had made in the shape of an “N” (for Nathan, of course)

It needs to be said though that we did not wake up this morning at 6:30 when the alarm went off. At 7:45, the time Angela told Slovanka she’d give her a lift, as Sebastians school is near Nathan’s playgroup, Slovanka called to see if everything was ok … In 10 minutes flat Nathan was woken up, changed and ready for school (by me) while Angela prepared for the day, and left our aparment looking as beautiful as ever, with no hint as to the fact Slovanka had infact woken us all up with her call.

Nathan got to school within the time allowed (anytime up ’till 8:30 is ok) as did Sebastian. Ang’ and Slovanka then enjoyed breakfast at a nearby Coffee-shop while I caught the bus to work …

GOD KNOWS

When you are tired and discouraged
From fruitless effort,
GOD knows how hard you have tried.

When you have cried for so long
Your heart is in anguish,
GOD has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold
And time has passed you by,
GOD is waiting for you.

When you think you have tried everything
And don’t know where to turn,
GOD has a solution.

When nothing makes sense and you
Are confused or frustrated,
GOD has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter
And you find traces of hope,
GOD has whispered to you.

Author Unknown

Quick in-and-out

Today we a very pleasant experience at Dubai Hospital, at least for Angela and myself (Not so much for Rachel) – We arrived at the hostpital at around 8am and Dr Bathyna drained about 170 mls of fluid from Rachel’s tummy at around 1 this afternoon. We were able to leave and come home just after 7 this evening, so we’re all still at home.

Relaxed at Home

We spent a relaxing day at home (didn’t go to church, ’cause we got home so late last night) and Rachel is doing fine. We’ll try and attend the service on Sunday evening.

Rachel Back Home

Angela and Rachel spent the night at Dubai Hospital and then this evening Ma, Dad, Nathan and I all joined them. As we arrived I was allowed to sit with Rachel while Dr Sanaa drained another 140 mls of fluid from around her liver. It’s a pretty long procedure, during which it actually speeds things up if Rachel cries, so it’s a not easy on any of us, especially not Rachel.

Anyway, after the tapping Rachel was on a drip of Albumin to restore her fluid levels and reduce the shock to her little body, as her tummy girth dropped from 49cm down to 47cm.

After waiting almost an hour we also received the news we can take Rachel home (Yippee!) but need to return on Saturday for another visit.

Drained Successfully

Dr Nadia drained about 160 mls of the fluid from around Rachel’s tummy over a period of about 45 minutes. Due to the bile this wattery fluid looks pretty much like urine. Rachel didn’t enjoy this procedure at all, as all they do is rub some local aneasthetic cream on it.

Rachel has however calmed down a lot now and is breathing a lot easier

Thanks you for all your prayers.

Waiting for the tapping …

Rachel is now receiving some vitamin K intravenusly to help with her clotting when they start the tapping procedure, probably in about a half hour or so.

Rachel is not happy with her drip at all – Although she is sleeping at the moment she does wake up every 15 minutes or so to complain about it…

Yours in Him

Hospitalisation Accepted.

Rachel was admitted to the New Dubai Hospital this morning following our visit with Dr Badriya and Dr Buthyna – The fluid in her tummy is at a critical level and is threatening a tummy rupture – The hernia in her groin is also threatening to strangulate ’cause of the increased pressure.

She has been admitted and taken some pre-lim’ bloodtests – We expect they will drain some fluid from her tummy in an hour or so.

Please pray for us all

Something to think about…

Because God loves me

Because God loves me He is slow to lose patience with me.
Because God loves me He takes the circumstances of my life and uses them in a constructive
way for my growth.
Because God loves me He does not treat me as an object to be possessed or manipulated.
Because God loves me He has no need to impress me about how great and powerful He is,
because He is God, nor does He belittle me as His child in order to show how important He is.
Because God loves me He is for me. He wants to see me mature and develop in His love.
Because God loves me He does not send His wrath down on every little mistake I make, of
which there have been many.
Because God loves me He does not keep score of all my sins and then beat me over the head
with them when ever He gets the chance.
Because God loves me He is deeply grieved when I don’t walk in the ways that please Him,
because this He sees as evidence that I don’t trust Him and love Him the way that I should.
Because God loves me He rejoices when I experience His power and strength and stand up for
His Name’s sake.
Because God loves me He keeps on working patiently with me even when I feel like giving up,
and can’t see why He doesn’t give up on me too.
Because God loves me He keeps on trusting me when at times I don’t even trust myself.
Because God loves me He never says, “There’s no hope for you.” Rather He patiently works
with me, loves me and disciplines me in such a way that it is hard for me to understand the
depth of His concern for me.
Because God loves me He never forsakes me even though many of my friends might.
Because God loves me He stands with me when I have reached the rock bottom of despair:
when I see the real me and compare that with His righteousness, holiness, beauty and love.
It is at moment like this that I can really believe that God loves me. Yes, the greatest of all
God’s gifts is God’s perfect love!

Trip to Wadi Farfar

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Today was a public holiday in Dubai so we took the opportunity to take Dad and Ma into the “mountains”.

At around 2 this afternoon Richard, Elaine and their house-guest James arrived at Sahari village – We’d all decided to “sleep-in” and spend a relaxed morning before our adventurous afternoon. At 14:20 our car (“Phoebe”) was ready and packed; We drove out behind Richard and Elaine’s car “Stanly” just before two thirty on our way to the UAE East coast.

The 90 minute drive to where our trail would start took us on the E88 highway past the Sharjah Arab Cultural Capital Monument, the little town of Al Dhaid and the Friday Market just before the village of Masafi. At Masafi we took the lower road heading for Fujairah on the East Coast. However, just before 4pm we’d take a little turnoff, 9km’s out from Fujairah and regroup.

The weather looked a bit ominous, and we were weary knowing flash floods could easily upset our day – A call to my friend Ahmad set us at ease though as it’s not rain season and the Eastcoast had apparently not seen the sun for a the last 10 days (without rain) so all ok.

We then pulled onto the trail and drove into Wadi Farfar. We passed some lovely terraced fields and number of wells and water pumps. Our route then changed a tad and started carving a precarious road out of the mountainside and started to climb steeply to an impressive ridge.

We stopped at the highest point, (about 512m above sealevel) to enjoy the views at around 16:15 and then continued driving along the rest of the approx. 20km route and found a picnic spot in the low lying Wadi Mamduh.

The men started making the fire while the women relaxed on the picnic blankets a little closer to the cars – there was a refreshing mountain breeze which Rachel didn’t much appreciate, but helped the fire along nicely. The food was ready just after a magnificent sunset (around 6pm) and what a feast it was. The ladies had also prepared some salads which were greatly enjoyed.

Some tinned fruit served as desert along with a welcome cup of coffee/tea, which Richard made using his very cool benzine stove/kettle, but which time it was pretty much night-time (i.e. dark beyond belief)

About seven fifteen we’d packed up, made sure the fire was totally put out, and were ready for the 90 minute drive home. Our paths parted at an Emirates Garage just outside Sharjah and as Richard, Elaine and James headed onto their home in Sharjah we spun off towards Ras Al Khor and were home just before the 20:30 news :-)

It was a lovely outing and all of us enjoyed the “closer” look at Gods wonderful handi-work, and the extremity of the mountains that are part of this desert country we call home. The family and friends also made for excellent fellowship … We truly are blessed in what the Lord gives us and allows us to enjoy!

Hospitalisation denied …

Today was not an easy day for various people in our lives …

Angela and I took Rachel to Rashid hospital for what has become her bi-weekly check-up visit with the pediatric specialists there (Dr Badriya and Dr Buthyna) . These are usually preceeded by Angela taking Rachel to Dubai Hospital for some blood-test.

So, every other Wednesday morning we usually discuss the results of the tests taken the day before and after a physical examination Rachel is prescribed some medicine to either alleviate her swollen tummy, help with whatever clotting measures are needed in her blood, or whatever else.

Angela and I have been fearing that at some stage we’d be asked to book Rachel into Hospital following one such visit – Today was that day.

Rachel’s breathing was very shallow this morning, and after a rather difficult night last night (waking up every two hours) she was not her alert self during our 9am consultation. Further, the blood tests Angela took Rachel for yesterday showed that her PT (some part of the blood clotting I failed to fully understand) is extremely high.

Dr Badriya asked that we please admit Rachel, both to address these issues, for observation and as she so nicely put it, “Medical Management” of Rachel’s failing liver.

It was hard and emotion for Angela and I as we explained we’d much rather have our daughter at home with us, albeit in a rapidly degrading state, than book her into hospital for what will probably be the rest of her life.

We both realised it was hard for Dr Badriya especially as she explained that not only from a Hypocratic oath point of view, but also a religeous one they have to do as much as they can for Rachel – She said that even though she knows the treatments will only extend Rachel’s life by probably a week, maybe a month, and make her slightly more comfortable, it will not address the actual issue, which is Rachel’s degrading liver.

However, in conclusion we were allowed to take Rachel home with us, but it meant signing a number of forms which freed the hospital from being held liable. With the Rashid Hospital Public Relations Officier as witness we stated that we fully understood that taking Rachel home with us was against medical advise …

We’ll still be taking Rachel to see Dr Badriya and Buthynain two weeks time, but we won’t be doing the prelimanary blood test, nor will be getting any medicine today/tomorrow … We’ll keep Rachel on the Vitamin K to help with he blood clotting profile, but relax most eveything else.

We thank you all for your continued prayers and support, and can safely say we’re starting to fill in the final chapters of our little lamb’s life. A warm thank you also to the wonderful doctors at Rashid Hospital, and their understanding of our wishes.

Yours in Him

Roy, and the Verrips Fam’

P.S. These are two quick snaps from my P900 – Dr Bedriya with Rachel, and both Dr’s Bedriya and Pethayna with her.

Nathan’s cute saying for today ..

We’re all doing fine, enjoying the time with Dad and Ma.

Nathan and Rachel are both very happy with all the additional love and hugs and kisses.

Anyway, really cute this afternoon: Angela offered Nathan some sweets, to which he replied That would be nice … (too cute!)

Dad and Ma in Dubai

Dad and Ma arrived in Dubai at around 1am on Wendesday morning, but only got through customs and were home with as at abou5 – Mainly ’cause of something Angela and I were meant to do with the VISA’s but totally forgot to.

Nathan got more presents, and all of us, especially Rachel got a lot of love. Attached are some pic’s.

This morning we went to church (as per our normal Friday morning routine) and will spend the rest of the day resting in each others company.

God Bless and keep you all

Yours in Him

Roy, Angela, Nathan, Rachel, Dad and Ma