For all Dalene's friends

[Cherry (Alcock)]

God to see the unbelievable spirit of your family Dalene; we should all count out blessings.  Best to you Boet, and all your family.  Cherry xxx

[pam spackman]

Hi Dalene, Glad to see Boet looking so good
I take my hat off to you as you have been such a tower of strength....in fact you ALL have

Thinking of you and it can only get better

[Barbara Eia (Brownless)]

   from england..it is so good to see Boet with a smile on his face, it makes all the difference in his recovery......and makes it a lot easier for you...you are both still in thoughts....and the rest of the family it must be hard for them too with you both being so far away

[Michele Alexander (Voden)]

Sorry, been a bit slack with posting Dalene's comments from Facebook, she posted this today - Taking on week 7 with happiness and gratitude. Boet's making excellent progress each day. He's up in his wheelchair for at least 5 hrs a day, beginning to roll himself in bed, had his 1st attempt at showering himself sitting up & succeeded. Woo-hoo !! Thank You Lord!! Thank you my friends!

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

Took Boet out of hospital for the first time today for an outing to Melkbosstrand  -  we had a super time and had lunch in the Seaside Blues restaurant.  National Sea Rescue people were having an excersise there, so it made for good views with the helicopter and all.   Here a few pics of our outing to show you all how good Boet is doing.

Pic 1  -  Boet with a big smile on his face in the small Corsa bakkie that I bought this week.
Pic 2  -  Me behind the wheel of the bakkie  -  Boet took the pic.
Pic 3  -  Boet and me having our lunch in the restaurant  -  all smiles !!
Pic 4  -  The helicopter and vehicles from the NSRI
Pic 5  -  Getting a nice fly-by from the pilots of the helicopter

[SandyB]

Nice  pics .. you  both looking  chipper and in good spirits ...

[Rhona]

Looking good Dalene - me thinks someone got their hair done..........really lovely 

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

It's great to see the both of you out and about, keep up with the recovery Boet...........

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

Boet's doing excellent in rehab, what with impairment and all.  Just got the reports from the doc's this week .... impairment in the arms is rated on 10% in the left arm and 40% in the right arm, but we're not giving up hope and the boy is really working hard in the gym to regain strength.  We are so blessed, for he has not had any fever or other minor hickups the past 2 weeks and we are sort of getting there with learning how to transfer from the bed into the wheelchair, from the wheelchair into the bed, from the wheelchair into the car and out the car back into the wheelchair.  He he he  -  have nearly dropped him a few times and yesterday the transfer board cracked when we got out at Melkbos ... !!  I did'nt know I had such strenght to hold him, but I must admit ... if it had not been for the good samaritan who helped us, we would have had trouble!!

Yes Rhona, I had my hair cut short and tinted it two shades blonder  -  makes for a new look and feeling good !!!!

[Bertie Horak]

Great stuff, Dalene!  Well done, Boet!  It's wonderful to see the improvement.  Just wait, we'll all be surprised.  The picture just gets better from here...
Sterkte vir julle, en vasbyt, Boet.  Jy is 'n wenner!

[pam spackman]

     It's so great to see such a HUGE improvement,Boet is
doing so well   Keep up the good work

All of us in th U.K are thinking of you guys.Onwards and Upwards!!

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

Excellent update news !!!

Boet has finally come to the last few days of his long stay in hospital - he has done really well and gets discharged from hospital on Friday the 8th of January.  Then we are going home !!!

It will not be easy for all of us and there is still a long hard road ahead.  I know we will have our ups and downs, but if millions of others all over the world can do it, so can we and we are striving to be the best 'copers' there is.

We cannot thank the Lord enough every day for the fact that He has spared Boet's life for us and for the recovery and healing this far.  That in itself is already a miracle!

Once again I have no words to thank you all.  All I can say is that you lot are the best there is.

And then ... my lifelong friend Susan.  Where would I have been without her.  She and Rudi has been worth more than the world's gold and diamonds - they opened their house, hearts, purses for us.  I could never ever repay them for what they have done for us these past months.  All I can say is :  Susan, you have been my heartfriend for ages and you will stay that till the end of my life.

Have I ever mentioned on this site that my own daughter is called Susan, because my friend's name is the first one that came to mind when my daughter was born....

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

Hi Dalene & Family,

All the very best for 2010 and it is already starting on the right note regarding the goods news about Boet leaving hospital.

Yes it's going to be tough at times but with the inner strength and love that you as a family posess and with familiar surrounds and friends arround, Boet's recovery will impove even better

Please keep us all posted as to how Boet is doing from time to time

Mike & Jenny

[Patricia Lotte]

  that's the way to go Dalene. Keep the spirits up, and when they do drop, just remember that we're all here thinking and praying for you and your family. Just get online and I guarantee you that someone here will be able to uplift you.

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

that's the way to go Dalene. Keep the spirits up, and when they do drop, just remember that we're all here thinking and praying for you and your family. Just get online and I guarantee you that someone here will be able to uplift you.

I could not have said it any better.