A New Breath

 "The sound of a newborn's breath is a gentle whisper of life's greatest miracles." Miracle No. 2: The Birth of Our Beautiful Baby Girl Daniella I often say I haven't experienced three weddings and a funeral, but rather three miracles and a funeral. You already know about the first miracle—meeting and marrying Schalk. Now, I want to share the story of our second miracle: the birth of our beautiful baby girl, Daniella. When Schalk and I first met, he knew the chances of us having children were slim to none. Despite this, his unwavering response was always, "I have you; I don't need anything else." Schalk, as you might remember from earlier stories, was relentless in seeking the best medical advice and treatments for me. He bombarded doctors with questions, researched new treatments, and kept hope alive. And amid all this, I kept asking, "Can we think about having a child?" Every time, the doctors’ responses were the same: no. They believed m...

  “Breathe deeply, until sweet air extinguishes the burn of fear in your lungs and every breath is a beautiful refusal to become anything less than infinite.” – D. Antoinette Foy One fateful Friday afternoon, while catching up on homework at a special friend's house, I met someone who would change my life forever. Standing tall, dark, and handsome in the driveway, he looked beyond my breathing difficulties and saw me for who I truly was. His genuine kindness and acceptance was a breath of fresh air, and he asked me out on a date the very next day. Our connection was instant and deep, proving the saying "elke pot het sy deksel" (every pot has its lid) to be true. As we journeyed together, we faced many challenges, but our love and faith in each other and the Lord guided us through. Every step of the way, I was reminded that things happen for a reason, and our paths are shaped by a higher purpose. We are put on journeys we don't always understand, but they often lead to...

  "To breathe properly is to live properly." — Robin S. Sharma High school is often seen as a thrilling adventure, a time filled with new experiences and endless possibilities. The anticipation of leaving primary school behind and stepping into high school brings joy and excitement not only to you but also to your parents. Saying goodbye to close friends as they head off to different high schools is bittersweet. You capture that poignant moment with a photo in front of the school, just like on your first day of primary school. In Grade 7, you feel so grown-up and important, but as soon as you start Grade 8, you realize you’re the baby all over again. This was my experience too. Despite spending more time in the hospital than at school, my parents made my first day of high school very special. I had probably attended high school for about six months when I suffered a severe attack that caused my airways to close. I was unconscious for about three and a half hours. Rushed to Pa...

When life gets you down, just take a deep breath and keep your head up high and look toward the sun and the bright blue sky Each breath is a reminder of the limitations imposed by my lungs, but also of the strength within me to persevere. My primary school days stand out as a pivotal chapter filled with unique challenges and memorable experiences. These early years were marked by a delicate balance between managing my health and finding joy in the innocence of childhood. In 1985, we moved back to Cape Town, and my medical journey took a new turn. I began seeing Dr. Jan Vermeulen, a pediatrician at Panorama, who became like a father figure to me. His compassionate care and unwavering support were a source of comfort and strength, and we still keep in touch to this day. Despite all efforts and treatments, my health continued to be a struggle, and I was eventually diagnosed with chronic lung disease due to multiple severe viral infections.  Panorama Hospital became like my second home...

  Life is a series of breaths, each one marking a moment in time, a heartbeat of existence. From our first breath to our last, we are in a constant dance with life’s fragility and resilience. I was born four weeks premature at Kingsbury Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa and from that very first breath, my journey with respiratory issues began. My entry into the world was marked by meconium aspiration, a condition where a distressed baby inhales amniotic fluid into the lungs. This early challenge was just the start of a long battle. At just nine months old, I contracted measles, which left my lungs even more compromised. From then on, my life was a whirlwind of doctor visits and hospital stays. My parents, ever determined and unwavering in their love, took me to every specialist they could find. Living in Springbok, the heart of the Namaqualand region in the Northern Cape province of South Africa , meant frequent, exhausting trips to Cape Town, particularly to Red Cross Hospital....