Update September 2010

Hello Everybody
It has been a really busy and difficult month for us but I’m happy to say that the worst is over, we are all well again and that hopefully soon, we can all get back on track and do what we need to do.


Thank you for all your well wishes and love and help.

Thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene Johansson, Dr Lara Smith, Bronwyn Hopwood, Marlene Helfrecht, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Rene Grimmbacher, Liam and Sam Grimmbacher, Michael P., Donna Cobban, Luc Michot, Anna Johansson, Yolanda and Alan Parry, The DA Ladies Committee, Bessie and Athina Kotsiopolous, Jessica Midlane and baby Lucy, Helen Schick and baby Maia, Claire Surman and Baby Ellie, Catherine Orr and baby Benjamin, Cahterine Johnson and Baby Charlie, Jill Barker and baby Oscar, Kara Williams and baby Noah, Melissa Talbot and baby Evie, Rachel McCurrie and baby Hamish, Catherine Swindles and baby Neave, Elaine Aquadro, Willem and Denise van Bergen, Annette Milner, Tara Girdlestone, Our friends at the New Beginnings Clinic, and our friends from Monterey Pre-Primary School. If I have left any names out, please forgive me. There are just so many caring people out there who have contributed generously with products as well as time and expertise – thank you to each of you and know that you have made a difference in someone’s life.

Babies Born during September:
There were 206 babies born at the clinic in September; 94 boys and 112 girls.

I found it very surprising at the amount of new moms aged 40 +… there were at least 15 of them and I had to giggle to myself and ask if there was a power failure 9 months ago.

But jokes aside, there is still a large number of young girls giving birth and when asked, they all say that it is a planned pregnancy. The clinic saw twin boys born at the end of September – this is unusual as the twins are seen as a complicated birth and are normally sent to Groote Schuur hospital.

The largest baby weighed 4,554 grams.

 Mom and Baby packs:
We continue to receive the most beautiful NEW items for the mom and baby packs – thank you very much for this as we only give NEW items for these. We still have a shortfall of panties for all the moms who go to the clinic.

Dry Goods’ Pantry:
Yolanda Parry still continues to add to the pantry in terms of frozen soup – this is on top of the contribution of 20 frozen soups per month from another person. Fresh bread, jam and peanut butter is given weekly and this just adds to our existing pantry of noodles, packet soups, baked beans, tinned tomatoes, rice and pasta.

The government still only supplies one dry Provita and a cup of soup daily for each patient.

2nd hand baby clothes from UK:
Jessica Midlane and friends [noted above] collected clothing for safe houses and baby homes. We managed to get Rob Aquadro who works for Richard Branson’s Virgin Group of companies to transport free of charge, the goods via ship to Cape Town. We were awed by the response from everyone involved who helped to do this.
Reality set in and the goods could not be cleared through customs due to red tape. 2nd hand clothing is an item that cannot be imported as a donation. VAT and clearances needed to be paid – which were going to be waved, but unfortunately due to the fact that there were 15 nappies and 4 pairs of baby shoes in the consignment, another additional two permits were needed.
These could only be given once an 8 page document were completed in triplicate and sent to Pretoria; and in addition to this, a document from a registered NGO needed to be completed stating that we are not going to re-sell these items.

While all this was happening, the consignment was stored and the storage fee amounted to more than the value of the clothing – a couple of thousand rands.

 Due to this and the fact stated above, the goods have been moved to the State warehouse where one of the following things can happen:
It will be auctioned off. If not sold it may either be destroyed or the government can donate the goods to less fortunate.

We are investigating attending the auction in October some time.
This has been a harrowing experience for me as well as a huge learning curve for all involved.

Place of Hope
Numerous people have been paying a lot of attention to Place of Hope – one of the safe houses to where we send some of our moms and babies.
Thank you so much especially Suzelle and your group – the room make overs are valued more than you can imagine and the Pamper day is still spoken about.

Staff at the clinic
These are dedicated and hard-working women who are often affected by the patients they see daily. One cannot do this work without having amazing amounts of compassion for others.

Last month during a gang-shooting at the day hospital next door, they just continued working with this going on and police running around – that is dedication!

Dullah course
I have had a number of enquiries for this even as far away as Rustenberg. Please send me more emails and I will give you the details of the courses run for our Dullahs.

Soccer Day
Annually we have a soccer day in order to raise funds for a special day for the staff at the clinic. This usually happens in November and teams may enter at R20 per person.

It has proven to be a day of great fun and the funds are then taken and we have a team building day for all the staff who really value the fact that we do something special for them.

If you want to enter a soccer team and join us for this, please email me and I will send the details.

DA Ladies group
Councillor Denis Joseph and the DA Ladies’ Committee have visited both the MOU and Day hospital in the past month, distributing sandwiches and soup.

Thank you Denis and Harriet for what you do for the Retreat community.

Donations of 2nd hand clothing for women, men and children:
 At present I am still busy organising our house. As you know, we have moved recently and I still have to unpack and sort personal things, so I am going to ask that you hold on to the clothing that you’d like to donate for safe houses and children’s homes until such time that I say that I am collecting again.

Should you wish to, however, I can give a list of places to where you may take these items yourself.

Thank you again and I hope you’re all well and healthy.
Enjoy the spring blossoms and the occasional rain – summer will be here soon!
Lots of love always
Norah

Update August 2010

Hello Everybody

I trust you’re all well. It is almost school holidays again, and before we know it, Christmas!

Thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene Johansson, Dr Lara Smith, Marlene Helfrecht, Bronwyn Hopwood, Elize Johnson, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Sandy Schuurmans, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Ingrid Rix, Rene Grimmbacher, Michael P., Anna Johansson, Annette Cowley-Nel, Yolanda Parry, Denis and Harriet Joseph, The DA Ladies’ Committee, Bessie and Athina Kotsiopolous, Jessica Midlane, Rob Aquadro, Anonymous friends at the New Beginnings Clinic, Anonymous friends at Monterey Pre-Primary School, Willem and Denise van Bergen.

Babies Born during August:
There were 164 babies born during August – 76 girls and 88 boys. Quite a low number and unusual.

Mom and baby packs:
We continue to receive the most beautiful new clothing and blankets for the baby packs. I stress the word new because every little item has been bought with care or made with love. This is probably the only new clothing most of these newborns receive. Thank you so much.

Dry goods pantry:
The pantry is going strong. Thank you to the DA Ladies Committee who paid a special visit to the clinic as well as the day hospital on Friday last week. Your presence was much appreciated.
Thank you also to each of you who have been making soup for us – it is the quickest and most nutritional meal we have to offer at present.

Donation of 2nd hand clothing from Jessica Midlane and friends:
Currently these items are in Cape Town but stuck in the Customs office. Unfortunately, due to the customs and excise act, they cannot release the items unless A LOT of paperwork is sent to and fro… it is a bit of a nightmare, but we will get the stuff out. Once we do, I will take photos and post them on the blog.
Thank you Jessica and friends [I have the list of names of the moms and the babies who have contributed and will note them in a later update]; thank you Rob Aquadro [who is able to perform small miracles].

Donation of much needed medical equipment:
At Present, these items are on the way to us. Once I get a list of items received, along with the names of the donors, I will let you all know. It is so much needed and welcomed. A very special thank you to Yolanda Parry who has arranged all of this.

Thank you for all the notes of encouragement and support we receive. I am receiving emails and phone calls from people who heard from a friend and so on, about our project. Please continue to forward our newsletters and updates to your friends and family.

My family and I will be moving on Wednesday, 8th September…. Finally! I am still surrounded by boxes – just more, this time.


Have a fantastic month and lots of love
Norah