January has been quite an emotional month for the ThembaCare family. We lost two very ill children, one who was part of the Thembalitsha family for a big part of his life. Assi was admitted to TCA from Red Cross Hospital, after being abandoned by his family when he was 8 years old. He suffered from HIV/AIDS, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and TB meningitis which all effected his development as well as the effectiveness of his lungs. After the first months of care, Assi’s health improved to such an extent that he was able to join the Village of Hope home in Grabouw. In 2011 Assi’s lung functioning started declining to such an extent that he had to be on constant oxygen supply and needed more intense medical care and he therefore returned to TCA. Even though Assi’s lung capacity was so poor and he was constantly out of breath, this did not steal his joy, his zest for life or his charms! He was an active, curious boy who loved any form of social interaction. Although he only spoke a few words, he had his ways of always getting his needs and opinions across and often managed to get some laughs and from the staff. Assi left us at the age of 12 years and although we mourn his death, we celebrate the fact that he was a well-loved, nurtured and appreciated child. Assi’s memorial service was a special occasion –we could look back on the life of an inspiring boy who was very much loved and who taught us so much about appreciating the gift of life and the people around us.
Dealing with very sick children can be tough. Although we see many little ones leaving our facility as chubby, healthy children, there are always the few in between whose stories end differently. However, we are thankful for the opportunities to love these little ones and give as much quality to their lives as possible. Yesterday a little, out-of-breath boy was walking outside when we noticed a butterfly in the bush nearby. He immediately tried to get everyone’s attention to the little bug, pointing and babbling in baby-language, incredibly excited about his new discovery. Children have such an ability to open our eyes again to celebrating life, bringing a joyful atmosphere to our home and reminding us to appreciate every day for what it brings!
