Newsletter

EASTER 2011

Easter Miracle Child

Ashica has overcome adversity time and again in her short life. She was born premature, weighing 1. 8kg and was born HIV Positive. At 2 months she was re-admitted to Tygerberg Hospital with severe diarrhoea and a chronic cough. Ashica was also dehydrated, had dry mucous membranes, and had a sunken fontanel. She was also diagnosed with Pulmonary TB, Acute Gastroenteritis Pneumonia and Failure to Thrive. Everyone was concerned about her ability to survive.

Ashica was admitted to St. Joseph's weighing 3,79kg at 6 months of age. The nurses struggled to feed her as she did not swallow or suck properly. Her mother died 2 weeks after she was admitted to St. Joseph's. She was diagnosed with pneumonia 3 times whilst at St Joseph's and was referred back to Tygerberg with complaints of low grade fever with on-going tachycardia and a continuing case of chronic coughing. She looked acutely ill with marked respiratory distress.

Ashica received excellent care at St Joseph's and after some serious hurdles, she transformed to a normal, healthy toddler. She is slowly gaining weight and at 14 months now weighs 6,59kg. She is now learning to walk, and with a little support is able to make her way around the ward.

Ashica is our Easter miracle child, which was made possible through God's blessings and with the unselfish support from our Pallottine Sisters, the therapists, nurses and staff who were involved in caring for her.

These miracles would not happen were it not for the many donors who help St. Joseph's with prayers and donations. We invite you to become a part of the solution that makes a difference.

"So I say unto you:
Ask and it will be given to you;
Seek and you will find;
Knock and the door will be opened"

Luke 11:9

A Lifetime Commitment

Sr. Vera awaits the sunset on her African sojourn. As a young girl Sr. Vera knew she wanted a life committed to Christ. She found her cause in the service to children. Today, so many years later, Sr. Vera's has kept faith with Jesus who said "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them." . . . And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:14-16)

"I always wanted to teach children" said Sr. Vera as she spoke about her life's work. She trained as a teacher and taught for 4 years in a German school before joining the Pallottine Sisters.

Shortly after her vows she was assigned to South Africa. For the next 48 years she worked far from her family in Germany, she left everything she ever knew, but carried with her a strong work ethic, her values and her faith. Sr. Vera struggled being so far from her family, particularly during a family crisis. Sr. Vera's faith in Christ and her work with children held her steadfast during the rough patches. Her first priority was always her work for the Pallottine community and the children.

"Sr. Vera was not concerned about buildings, but about the different Apostolates the community was engaged in and her contact with the people, the children and the involvement in the well-being of people. A good education was a great concern for her. She was a teacher herself, but it was the education of the heart, the relationship of people with their creator, which was her great concern."

Sr. Boscona

Tel :
+27 (0)21 934 0352
Fax:
+27 (0)21 934 7404