Richard and Liesel's Wedding

The 14th January 2011 was a day of joy and celebration. Richard and Liesel, after many months of planning and organising, were joined in matrimony, to the delight of both their families!

Ned and I are thrilled to have a second daughter-in-law!
The whole party looked stunning and happy. Inge and Heidi attended their bride-sister, and Paul, Allan and Ian kept their groom-brother on his toes.
The Donkin Drones (Ned, Paul, Derek, Richard and Tim) added their flavour to the enjoyment of the occasion.
How lovely it is to have an expanding family.
We are truly blessed!

Richard graduates

A very happy day and reward for achievement. Richard graduated with distinction in Electronic Engineering and was awarded a gold medal and prize for being the top student.

Here we are, with the Engineering Building in the background. From left to right: Liesel, Richard, Honey, Beryl, Ned.

Next Adventurer

Yesterday Richard began his journey to Semonkong (Lesotho) to join missionaries there and lend a hand with whatever they need him to do. He arrived this afternoon. I cannot say that I was not a bit anxious and 'motherish' as he was getting together the things he needed (like food!) and making his travel plans. But then I got to thinking: he is 23 years old. At that age I emigrated to Southern Rhodesia as the first step in my working my way around the world. My plans didn't get much further as I met Ned there and that was the end of far-away travels - we did spend 5 years in the Transkei though, leaving for Pretoria when Richard was 2 months old!
I wonder where Richard's adventures will lead him? He is planning to be in missions himself in time. The where, when and what are yet to be revealed......

Adventure is part of our ancestry - on both Ned's and my side. "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players..." Blessings on you, my son, as you spread your wings - or direct your wheels!

Silence

Almost absolute silence. Richard's computer has been humming in the background in my study for months and months doing simulations for his 4th year electronic engineering project. He moved it out of his room so he could sleep undisturbed. Now it is silent. The first draft of his project is due tomorrow (Wednesday). It is a bit late in being handed in because of his slow typing. Not only is his right hand affected by the focal dystonia, but his left hand developed arthritis a couple of months ago which makes it painful for him to type. Thank God for the blessing of one of his friends and fellow students who spent a day here a week or so ago doing the typing to Richard's dictation and got through a lot of work that way.

Life is tough - especially when it's one of your kids that is struggling.
But I am appreciating the silence!

The Joy of Achievement

In October 2007 I wrote about the dystonia that Richard has, and of what can be done about it. He tried the medication, and turfed that because of the negative effects and how it impacted his cognitive thinking and skills. He will try the botox injection, administered into the muscle by a neurologist - but has yet to be contacted about when the clinic will be held. In the meantime he has been looking for ways to deal with the problem and use his left hand more and has made good progress.

• His writing is improving.
• He uses Linux as an operating system on his computer, and has mirrored his keyboard so that he uses only his left hand - q is q, but when he uses the space-bar and presses q it is p - and so on! This you can do with linux but not with windows.
• He has been constructing a one-handed keyboard device. He was sent a blue-print and used it for the physical part, but used a different chip from the one recommended and wrote his own code for it. Today he announced that it was complete and working - and the smile on his face stretched from here to forever. So we celebrated the hard work, time, effort, problem solving and all that had gone into constructing this cunning device.

Here is a picture of the cheese-cake he asked for, and all our smiley faces! The cheese-cake was baked by someone at Spar - whose efforts I really appreciate, having given up baking myself a long time ago!!
Richard is sitting at the top right-hand corner of the table - next to me.

Writer's Cramp

It's something we would have laughed about before we knew what it was about. It's called Focal Dystonia, stems from the basal ganglia in the brain, and affects the muscles of the hand and forearm - causing spasms during writing. Automatic fine motor skills, that we take for granted, are no longer possible without supreme effort. The easiest is to learn to write with the other hand - which is not easy at all.

It's a bummer if you are a 22year old 3rd year going into 4th year electronic engineering student, who needs to write or use a computer keyboard a lot, and who needs to put together circuits and things that require accurate, fine motor skills.

Medication is not helpful. Botox injections may help. Occupational therapy could help develop the other hand and arm. Any advantages? - depends on your mindset:
- develop the other side of your brain
- develop patience and forbearance
- develop creative ways of dealing with frustration
- investigate the best buys in small keyboards that will fit the span of the other hand - to prevent shoulder and arm stress in that other arm
- invent cunning devices that will help make life easier for other sufferers

- gives intercessors something specific to pray for/ about
- gives non-sufferers the opportunity to say "There but for the grace of God go I"

Its a bummer if said electronic engineering student is your 3rd son and you can't do a damn thing to help or take it away.

Some things our children have to negotiate through themselves in life.
We can stand by and encourage and pray.