Hi everyone - so sorry have not posted an update in so long but life has been crazy hectic and am back in Zim with our ultra slow telephone lines (2.8 kbs at this moment!!). Hoping Sunday will be better.

Alan still in South Africa but boys and l had to come home to Zim to deal with everything after having been away a month already.

AL HAS XRAYS AND A BARIUM MEAL ON MONDAY. THIS IS TO CHECK THAT ALL OK INSIDE AND NO LEAKS OR ANYTHING. ON FRIDAY THE PLASTIC SURGEON WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT HE IS HAPPY TO STITCH AL UP COMPLETELY OR NOT. THEREAFTER THE TRAUMA SURGEON WILL DETERMINE IF THE COLOSTOMY CAN BE REVERSED AND WHEN. HE SAID THERE MAY BE COMPLICATIONS WITH THIS WHICH WILL REQUIRE FURTHER SURGERY BUT TRUSTING THIS WONT BE THE CASE! HOPING AGAINST HOPE AL WILL BE HOME SOONER THAN WE THINK AS WE ARE ALL DEVASTATED NOT TO BE TOGETHER. KYLE CRIED FOR AGES WHEN HE SAID BYE TO HIS DAD - HEARTBREAKING!

OUR SON KYLE HAD A FAIRLY BIG OP WHILST WE WERE THERE TOO - ADENOIDS, TONSILS AND GROMMITS AND DID NOT RESPOND WELL TO THE ANESTHESTIC WHICH WAS VERY TRAUMATIC. SADLY WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE IMPROVEMENT IN HIS HEARING THAT WE HAD HOPED TO SEE BUT WILL HAVE HEARING TESTS AGAIN IN THE NEW YEAR AND GO FROM THERE. HE HAS ALSO JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD WHICH IS ALSO VERY SAD BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW WHAT CAUSES HIS "ERRATIC" BEHAVIOUR AND CAN START TO DEAL WITH THAT PROACTIVELY.

MARIUS GERRICKE (SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW FROM HUNTING) WAS AMAZING TO US AND TOOK THE TIME TO VISIT AL, TAKE HIM BILTONG AND ALSO LENT US A VEHICLE SO THAT TOOK A LOT OF THE PRESSURE OFF THE FRIENDS WE STAYED WITH. IN ORDER TO GET AL BACK TO THE HOSPITAL FOR AN 8AM CHECK UP WE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE HOME AT 6AM IN ORDER TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC - CRAZY CITY THAT JOBURG IS. I HAD TO TACKLE MY FEAR OF DRIVING IN JOBURG AND NOW KNOW THE INNER WORKINGS OF HILLBROW INTIMATELY (I GOT LOST !!!). ANYWAY, THAT WAS SO UNBELIEVABLY GENEROUS OF MARIUS AND WE WILL FOREVER BE IN HIS DEBT.

ANOTHER MASSIVE THANK YOU IS TO RUSS GREEN WHO HAS HELPED US OUT WITH A FINANCIAL GIFT AND TRULY SAVED OUR BACON! THANK YOU RUSS AND MAY YOU BE BLESSED TEN FOLD.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MANAGED TO CALL AND SEND US THEIR GOOD WISHES. THESE HAVE MADE SO MUCH DIFFERENCE TO US OVER THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

WILL POST AN UPDATE AT THE END OF THE WEEK ONCE WE HAVE SOME NEWS FROM THE SURGEONS.

WITH SINCERE THANKS AND THE VERY BEST OF WISHES FROM ALAN, MYSELF AND OUR WHOLE FAMILY.

ROSY SHEARING

PS ALAN HAS CRACKED OPEN A FEW BOTTLES OF MILLERS SINCE I LAST POSTED AN UPDATE!

Thanks for checking in. Glad to hear that Alan is progressing and hope Kyle does better.

quote:

MARIUS GERRICKE (SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW FROM HUNTING) WAS AMAZING TO US AND TOOK THE TIME TO VISIT AL, TAKE HIM BILTONG AND ALSO LENT US A VEHICLE SO THAT TOOK A LOT OF THE PRESSURE OFF THE FRIENDS WE STAYED WITH.

ANYWAY, THAT WAS SO UNBELIEVABLY GENEROUS OF MARIUS AND WE WILL FOREVER BE IN HIS DEBT.

ANOTHER MASSIVE THANK YOU IS TO RUSS GREEN WHO HAS HELPED US OUT WITH A FINANCIAL GIFT AND TRULY SAVED OUR BACON! THANK YOU RUSS AND MAY YOU BE BLESSED TEN FOLD.

I just thought that was worth repeating...


I hope Alan recovers quickly and that your family is enjoying better times soon.

I hope Alan and Kyle both recover well and are back in the saddle soon.

much love and god bles, Guy.

tm

Hi everyone,

Hope this finds you all well.

Just heard from Alan and he goes back into hospital for surgery on Saturday. He expects to be in hospital for 8 days or so. So sad l cannot be with him but there is no plan with the boys. Anyway, hoping against hope he will be back home by Christmas.

Love to you all and thank you so much for your support and well wishes.
Alan, Rosy, Kyle and Chad
xxxx

The entire Safari Classics family sends their prayers and wishes for a complete and speedy recovery for Alan and Kyle. This is a tough game we play, and Alan is a tough guy who will give the fight ahead his very best.
We are thinking of you ,and again, will keep this family in our prayers.

Fingers crossed that the surgery goes very well.

Best of luck to you, lan and your children though this difficult time. This may offer some encouragement:

"Invictus"

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

-- William Ernest Henley, 1875

Hi Rosy - re Kylies hearing problems

My brother who is based in Harare had some work done on his ears at the University of Pretoria. They have an excellent team there that has a project concerned with Cochlea implants if you need info please get hold of me on grpauto@telkomsa.net and I will put you send you some info.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Fulson:
The entire Safari Classics family sends their prayers and wishes for a complete and speedy recovery for Alan and Kyle. This is a tough game we play, and Alan is a tough guy who will give the fight ahead his very best.
We are thinking of you ,and again, will keep this family in our prayers.

Dave said it all,

Al was in surgery for some hours yesterday. Complications due to bowel having being cut askew in Zim and having to then be repaired once the colostomy was reversed. He is back in ICU and l spoke to him briefly last night. He is in a lot of pain but doing well. Waiting for the trauma surgeon to come in and see him. He sends everyone his best wishes and sincere thanks for your continued support -as do the boys and l

Hope all is going well after the surgery.

All the best to Alan's speedy recovery and God bless you all Rosy.