WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

I have been seeing the physio once a week and she is as frustrated as I that there is no progress possible because as soon as she tries to get the knee straight, it pushes up against her and cancels out her effort. That’s why, 3 months after the op, the knee is still not straight (and I suspect will stay that way now, kind of frozen in that position). My bad luck, or is the Lord trying to tell me something?

     One of the children of the well known Drs. John and Gloria Brouckaert, passed away (inoperable colon cancer) and I was asked to take the cremation service as I have been a friend of the family for over 50 yrs. This family with its many kids and totally committed mom and dad, both doctors here at St. Mary’s hospital, kept me sane in those first years when I had just arrived in South Africa.Mostly a family affair with a good number of friends. It was lovely to see the family all pulling together to have a beautiful farewell for their sister. The service was on the 15^th at the crematorium.

     On the 16^th I concelebrated with a friend at Savannah Park.  First time in 3 months. It was the feast of the Holy Trinity and we used incense. He did the incensing and I stood back and leaned on something. ( I still easily lose my balance).ne

  On Tuesday, 18^th, I saw the Neurologist, Dr. Colin Wolpe and told him that the medicine we had been trying didn’t work at all. The spasms keep coming as they have since just after the knee op on Mar. 14^th. I was ready to give up but he said let’s try cortisone. He phone the doctor who did the op to check if cortisone would interfere in the healing process of the knee and was given the go ahead.

He then wrote out a long and complicated scrip. Beginning with 3 days of IV’s of cortisone followed by cortisone taken orally (pills),

               After trying here and there I managed to get all that was on the scrip.

The plan is now to use the sisters sick bay on Wed. Thurs. And Fri. this week to get the new procedure started and keep our fingers crossed that it shows some signs of taking away the spasms.

     In the meantime, I have been cleaning some of my drawers and shelves where some tiny mice have been nibbling away at a few snacks I had stored away.

    I had some visitors also who brought some delicious and pungent samosas. I love them.

Saturday the 22^nd we had the interment of Lizzies ashes underneath a tree in a friend’s beautiful garden. I am sure that she will be happy there.

    Yesterday, the 23^rd was the second time I was at Savannah Park since the op. It was the feast of Corpus Christi so there was a procession with the blessed sacrament which I sat out. I promised to try to say a Mass at the hospital on Wednesday at 6am. We shall see how that goes.

    I also managed to get to the Paulines bookshop to pick up a book for Nomonde…Angels Help from On High---stories and prayers. I wonder what she is getting up to now.

    Well, that brings us up to date. Let’s keep praying that this cortisone will do something good. Take care.

Patience… a day at a time.    Cas.