Weekend with William

William ist at the moment in the Western Cape Rehab Centre, close to the Airport in Cape Town.

He is allowed to go for a weekend "home" to Bonnievale.

For William to return "home" I had to take Lethu for training on how to take care of William. Lethu did very well with the training and staff at the Rehab centre complimented him on his caring attitude. But when I took Lethu home he said to me that he does not mind doing this for William but he is a young man, only 21 years old and he does not want to do it all the time.

William has no control of muscles in the torso and that means he has no use of his arms, hands. He cannot sit on his own. Everything that we do for ourselves without thinking twice - a carer now must do for William.

So we had to take Zano (husband of Elsie - employed at the project) last wednesday to do training. On Friday I could pick the two of them up. I arrived at 12h00 and finally at 14h00 we were on the road back to Bonnievale. Normally a two hour drive.

William was in good spirit, I bought him an ice cream and he enjoyed it very much. On the farm he was very tired and I send Hugo with Zano back to Bonnievale. Zano wanted to see his family again and Lethu would stay with William for the weekend. Big was my surprise when Hugo cam back not only with Lethu but also with the three children of William. Phumesa, Ayanda and Pakamani - had to make another bed for them.

On Saturday I took William to the project and left him there with helpers to pack his things. It took me another two trips to bring all his furniture and stuff to store on the farm. Now the two rooms that he occupied we can use for the baby room. We are registred now to take care of 6 babies and we want to start doing just that.

Saturday evening William was very tired and after putting him into bed we were all tired. It was quite a picture as I sat unwinding watching a film with the children of William and Lethu all in a row next to me. Lethu was very attentive and every now and tehn checked with William to see if he was ok.

On Sunday I took William to a church service of his church the Zion Church. They organised to have it in the big wendy house at the project. I left him there at 11h00 and at 16h00 I went back to pick him up. But they were still busy with dancing, singing and praying. I took some nice photos and will post it later in the week.
Lethu stayed in the Squatter Camp and Zano came out and is taking care of William tonight. But they are both tired and when I looked in they were both asleep at 21h00.

Tomorrow I have to take the children to school at 07h45, then William has to see the police, and we have to go to the Bank. Then I will take the farm truck to Paarl for a service, at the moment I am the only one with a valid licence to drive the truck. Hugo will come to Paarl with William and we will together go to the rehab centre.

We will stay over in Milnerton and on Tuesday Hugo has a conference in Paarl and I will then take the truck back to Bonnievale.

This week is a short week, Thursday is a public holiday.