[Bulletins] FW: Harry at end week 12

Sat Jan 5 10:11:59 UTC 2013

FYI - with best wishes for the new year.

Please delete if not applicable.

John W

From: Harry Burggraaf [mailto:harry.burggraaf at bigpond.com] 
Sent: Saturday, 5 January 2013 6:18 PM
To: harry.burggraaf at bigpond.com
Subject: Harry at end week 12

Dear family and friends,

Harry has made it into the new year.

We have valued your faithfulness in lovingly and prayerfully, walking
alongside us, for these , now 12 weeks.

The chest drain to relieve the plueral effusion was able to be removed last
Sunday, when we also had the speech therapist do her first assessment for a
trial with a speech valve. But Harry's strength is not yet sufficient for
this. It will take some practice to exercise all those throat muscles that
have not been in use for such a long time. Speech therapy has not occurred
again, due to Harry  becoming septic and having another internal  bleed on
Monday morning. He required  3 bags of blood and a pack of platelets. He was
put back on antibiotics on Monday due to his high temperatures. His BP again
became quite  unstable. On Tuesday he was distressingly unwell and restless
with the infection (I stayed with him for most of the day with Sonya
relieving me) on Wednesday Harry started having small heart stoppages again,
some self-correct, others require chemical correction. we haven't had these
while Harry has been  off antibiotics. Thursday they were increasing in
frequency and I asked if they could be related to the Vancomycin. which he
restarted on Monday . So he was taken off it. However Thursday we were also
informed that they have isolated Methycillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA)
in his lungs and in his blood stream. Over these two days Harry also started
to develop painful spasms especially in his left arm. they are trying to
find the cause - they started after the chest was drained. So yesterday he
went for a brain scan which has come back normal.. for which we are
thankful. They have increased his pain relief and today an OT was looking at
how to prevent contractures after being in bed for so long. The pain, the
infection, the heart stoppages , have played havoc with the stability of his
vital signs so he is back on the CPAP machine again.  

I explained to Harry today that we are going to attend Simon and Ana's
commissioning service tomorrow -as Ana leaves for the Solomons  on the 21st
and Simon in Feb. He opened his eyes and gave me a sad gaze. I validated his
look, by acknowledging that we all grieve the fact that he can't be there,
but that I will represent us both, as best as I can - and  that his good
mate Martin will report back to him afterwards about how it went.  Pray for
Simon and Ana as they venture into this work and for the preparation they
still need to do, that they will know God's peace and enabling.

Jonathan and I will continue on to Apollo Bay to join Sonya and Cam and the
children till Tuesday - Just to have a few days by the beach will be a
refreshing break. I pray that Harry will stay stable in this time with other
family members covering the visits on those days. Simon also will be closer,
as he attends  Cross -Cultural training in Belgrave.

While Harry appears to follow our conversation with his  very expressive
eyes; the pathways to motor control on request seem quite delayed and
difficult. I pray that we may see improved responses in this area and some
resolution to the spasms and the muscular/skeletal  pain.

A teacher friend of Harry sent me this prayer: 

            God, make me brave for life: Oh braver than this.

Let me straighten after pain, as a tree straightens after the rain,

Shining and lovely again.

God make me brave for life; much braver than this.

As the blown grass lifts, let me rise

>From sorrow with quiet eyes,

Knowing your way is wise.

God, make me brave, life brings

Such blinding things.

Help me keep my sight;

Help me see aright

That out of dark comes light.    - Author Unknown

In the midst of all the set-backs of this week, I have known a peace .  and
had confirmation - of God using and guiding things, 

so thank you  for your sustaining prayers, as we continue day by day,
looking to God for all we need.

With love 

Henni

Harry and Henni Burggraaf

17 Edgewood Road

Dandenong  3175

Tel 9791 2601   Mob 0408 452 892

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