Busy Day - Wow I feel it!

My assistant Joké came to see me today at home, to bring the post, accounts etc. It was good seeing her her again after a week. The girls at the office where running flat out on new and existing projects. I thank the Lord for his provision! Straight after the lady assisting with our house alterations arrived to discuss finishing options on the house. The builders also came to visit to discuss certain aspects of our house alteration. The progress on the house was good! I really was wrecked at the end of the day. It really took a lot out of me! Slept well that night!

Heat Wave

Being at home, we have an extremely hot day, its un-bearable in the bed room, here we take some time, and cool off our feet in the pool....

First visit to the Oncologist

Today we met with the Oncologist, and discussed all treatment options with her. We had a lot of questions around the treatment type, stem cell replacement and what this all means? The treatment of this type of cancer has advanced substantially over the last ten years.  Where ten years ago there was not much they could do for you, now there are new drugs and stem cell replacement, which is apparently very effective method of treatment.  We also understand multiple myeloma as being highly treatable. She explained a 4 month treatment regimen, and how stem cell replacement works. We hope and trust the Lord for a full recovery from this disease!

Girls from the Office come to Visit

Today was a Great Day, the Design C girls came to visit. They brought me nice goodies and get well balloon, and the coolest get well card!

I must say I was quite emotional seeing them again! They have been great, holding the fort while being off so so long! Thanks Girls!

Visit from Oz

Mom flew over from Australia to visit me in hospital, and at home. Thanks Mom, really appreciate it. Also for you having your anniversary away from home!

Time for Faith

I started journalling, and seeking Gods face. I made notes of my thoughts and feelings, also scriptures that the Lord started giving. I started reading His word and seeking out His promises. I thank the Lord for my home group that has supported me during this time, they prayed for me and anointed me with oil. I recall some of the prayers that we prayed that night. 


..in time I will look back and see how the Lord has been with me, and see his hand in my life;
..the Lord still wants to do so much more in my life, and still has a great purpose for me;
..my daughter prayed "that Gods holy waters would pour and wash over me;


I really also wanted to trust the Lord for the completed work of the cross, through what Jesus did for us, and that we can stand in complete redemption and healing at the foot of his cross. Jesus in dying for us on the cross, paid the ultimate price for our sins. The work of the cross was full and complete! Jesus broke the curse, and gained the victory over the evil one, and in this victory I stand.


Another scripture that really spoke to me while being in hospital, is Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neitherdeath, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, ⁴²  nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


What an amazing scripture to read, It does not matter what, nothing can separate us from the love of God  in Christ Jesus our Lord! It does not matter what you are going through, whether good or bad, there is nothing in this universe or in the spiritual realm, that can separate us from Gods love. All I need to have is faith in Him!


Psalm 23 - Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.


I was also seeking the will of the Lord for my situation, and believe that "to Him be the Glory, Honor and Praise", and that I will look back and see how he guided me and lead me to the "Glory of His Kingdom, and the extension thereof". There is also a boldness that has come about in me, "for I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation"


"Surely you will never leave of forsake me!"

"Eph 3:19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to ⁴⁴  all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the Divine Presence and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God himself]. 

[3:20 to Him, by the power that is within us, is able to carry out his purpose and do super abundantly, for over and above all that we dare ask or think (intentionally beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes and dreams] - Amplified

Reality Sets In, also another Curve Ball

As I start my recovery at home, and then reality dawns, that we have not yet even started dealing with real cause of my illness. I have just merely had a operation to repair the damage that was done to my spine, now I have to get my mind around the reality of possible treatment and radiation.

At this stage, we are under the impression the disease was plasmacytoma, that only occurs in one place, and has not spread any where else.

While liaising with Doctors for a quick appointment with a Hematologist / Oncologist at Pretoria East Hospital, we get news of a bone marrow biopsy, that took 2 weeks to analyze  (which we had forgot about), showed indications of multiple myeloma. Although all reports that no other lesions where evident, it showed that there was activity.

I was quite shocked and emotional, as the disease was more progressed than what first indicated, albeit at the early stages.

Going Home!

I finally was allowed to go home, after being in hospital for close to 3 weeks, from start to finish!

Driving home in the car, I could feel every little bump in the road. It was great to be at home! Roxy really missed me! And now sleeps next to my bed every night. 

It was great to be home again, out of the hospital, in familiar surroundings. The first couple of nights where rough, getting used to the bed, getting up in the night. 

Catch Me - Lord Catch Me!

After being send from high care to a normal ward, I had to go for x-rays. I was pushed down to the x-ray room in my bed. I was asked if possible to stand for the x-rays. Being confident that I was able, I stood for the first x-ray. When it was time for the next one, I told the sister that I was feeling faint. She said she we do it quickly. While standing there, I started shouting, "I'm going to faint!". She was still around the corner when I blanked out.
When I started coming too,  I realized that she had caught me just in time, and was busy slowly putting me down on the ground. They then need 6 people and a stretcher to pick me up again...I really thank the Lord for protecting me on that day!

The next round!

The excitement of making it back to the general ward was short lived when I had to start preparing for the next round. The doctors operated from the back, leaving a new fresh cut down the middle of my back. The operation took around 3 hours and was successful. After the operation I was admitted to high care, and felt a lot better than the first operation. Although, this was sore! It was a back operation pain was uncomfortable. This would be the pain I would struggle with for the next couple of weeks.

While is high care, I was able to watch the rugby, and watch the Bokke loose against  Oz! High care had a nice view, so I could see outside and at least see what the weather was doing. Once again, I had so many visitors, really appreciate it!

From high care back general ward, and slowly I could start being unplugged from the matrix, great feeling, being wireless!

The next challenge was to start walking, it seemed harder this time. I could only stand for a couple of minutes and then sit down, then walk around the bed, double pain, double wounds, and very weak....not nice. Eventually I was able to walk around the ward, and also up and down stairs. the quicker I get this right, the quicker I can go home!

I made it!

So I finally made it from ICU to High Care to a General Ward! I'm starting to feel like normal, less pipes and drains! The one thing about being in High Care and ICU are the amount connections. I felt like I was connected to the matrix! 3 drips, two drains, catheter, ekg connections, etc....One can't move!

The other thing was getting back onto your feet, the physio visited me every day, got my lungs back to normal, help me stand, then small steps to start walking, until I could walk the full ward. This would be short lived as the next operation was just around the corner.

Die Man van Staal!

So what does it look like?

Thanks for the Visits!

I really was amazed by all the visitors that came to see me in ICU and High Care. You guys are amazing!
Some days I was totally out of it, but you where there, I really appreciate it! Yvette was there faithfully during every visiting hour, Thanks, I love You!!

Living on a Prayer!

When I was in ICU, I was not able to listen to my iPod, I really missed listening to worship music.
I started thinking about songs that I new, and the Bon Jovi song, "Living on a Prayer" came to me, it was like a revelation. Here I was in ICU, half way there! I was living on a prayer, the prayers of all my family and friends!

There was another song by Lady Antebellum, called "Hello World", about a man whose life is in ruins, he sees a beautiful little girl in car next to him, in the traffic, and waves and smiles at her. Further down the road this car is in an accident, and he sees the little girl lying there, apparently dead. One can see the expression on his face, and how sad he was. Fortunately she is saved, and this mans life clearly is changed by what happens. In the same way, my life has been changed by what has happened, what will I do differently? How will I change my life, for his Glory, this is the road that I seek and pray the Lord will reveal to me.