21 today …

It was on a Wednesday, three weeks ago that Rachel was last admitted into Hospital and she hasn’t been home since. This is the longest single stretch she’s been in hospital, a day longer than when she was in Pretoria East Hospital in May with the RS virus, and week longer than when she was born in early April.

I spent the afternoon with Rachel today, giving Angela a chance to spend some time with Ma as the two of them hardly ever see each other as they work opposing shifts at the hospital.

I enjoyed the time with my little darling – She is so cute and very eager to have a bit of fun – We played “Peek-a-boo” and “Where’s the baby” and she enjoyed that a lot. She’s developed the cutest facial expressions when she’s looking at something and concentrating on it and her eyes seem to “say” a lot more these days.

Rachel is however getting weaker and more subdued daily. During the five hours I spent with her yesterday she slept for about four of them – Her blood-pressure is gradually dropping, indicating a weakening heart, which is very understandable given the amount of strain it’s under due to the portal hypertension. She seems very drowsy at times – We praise and thank the Lord though as her comfort level seems to have increased, i.e. either the pain she was experiencing in the last couple days of last week has gone away, or she’s dealing with it a lot better with the help of the pain medication.

We continue to ask our Lord for strength and vitality during this time – The routine of the daily swap-over between Ma and Angela, and the hospital visits with Rachel, is not only an emotional drain on all of us (Nathan included) but is physically draining at times as well – As I locked up our home a few minutes ago Angela, Nathan and Dad were all fast asleep, clearly exhausted from everything that has been happening these last three weeks.

We entrust ourselves in the Hands and Will of our Lord and know He is keeping us in His grace

Yours in Him

Roy, Angela, Nathan, Rachel, Dad and Ma