emsia.kruger - Letters Home

Cooking with love inspired by my son

06/04/2021 emsia.kruger

Years ago, our Italian colleague remarked during lunch, “I can taste they have not prepared the food with love.” At that point, any food prepared by someone else was delicious, even canteen food. I needed time to comprehend his remark.

I had limited cooking time with a career, household and three children to drive around. With a vegetarian husband and carnivorous sons, cooking was in my “get-it-done” category. I suspect not much love ended up in my one-pot dishes.

When my sons left the nest, their cooking skills were limited to fried eggs, flapjacks, and barbecuing. Jacques values healthy living, and with a limited budget, he had to depend on his cooking skills after school. Soon we were impressed with his creativity in the kitchen.

Jacques’ business – The Cinnamon Club

Jacques Kruger's words about his business, The Cinnamon Club

Jacques was part of the Kruger household for a long time during the Covid confinement. He offered to take responsibility for the household’s main meal, which he had to finish by a specific time in the evening. He was obligated to consider all the relevant food allergies and harness his creativity. In the process, he discovered that a vegan lifestyle overcomes most food allergies.

After completing his business degree, Jacques decided to focus on his love and passion for cooking and baking with plant-based products. He likes to experiment with various herbs and spices. He used to add a bit of cinnamon to all his creations, and this habit inspired his business name, The Cinnamon Club. Please look at his beautifully presented vegan and gluten-free cakes on his web page – The Cinnamon Club.

My cooking inspiration

Jacques, meanwhile, inspired me to be more creative with cooking. Every week I try a recipe from another country with all the right ingredients, herbs and spices. I make a point of identifying the country the different items originate. With the peeling and preparation of the dishes, I appreciate the uniqueness and perfection of the fresh produce.

We live between the farms and can buy farm-fresh produce. We get fresh milk at the dairy near our house. In spring and summer, they also make strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and other types of fruit available in the fridge next to the road. Contrary to what we are used to, farm products here are slightly more expensive than in the shops because they are fresh from the farm.

Baking bread

It is easy to seduce Charl with bread, and he likes to bake it himself. When our German language skills have improved, we would like to participate in a bread-baking course. Charl still has a dream of owning a bakery in the future. In the meantime, I spoil him with the large selection of bread available at the local bakery.

The German-speaking countries are known for their fermented products. One of Charl’s colleagues, Stefanie, spoiled us with bottles of pickled vegetables and pickled red onions. She grows her herbs with which she pickles them. The fragrances are heavenly and an excellent gift made with love. Stefanie promised to send me some of her pickled pumpkins with vanilla in the fall. I am very much looking forward to seeing and tasting it.

I have come a long way in the kitchen with inspiration from various places. However, I now understand what Gaetano meant by “One can taste when someone prepared food with love.”

Regards

Emsia

The various colours of truth

29/03/2021 emsia.kruger

Colour is powerful. It has an impact on our moods and emotions and inspires our decision-making. Our frame of reference determines whether a specific colour has a positive or a negative association. Colour also leaves us with question marks when we see something that looks different than expected.

Orange sky in Switzerland

During February, we noticed how the sky here in Switzerland changed from the usual white, blue and grey into the most beautiful orange. The phenomenon kept us guessing and reminded me of the orange desert sunsets in the Kalahari. The newspaper confirmed that sand is also the reason for the orange sky. Desert sand blows from the northern parts of Africa, such as Mauritania, Mali, and Algeria, to Europe. The sand acts as a lens, changing the colour of the sky.

In science, we learn that a prism lens can refract white light in different colours. Truth, just like light, can also be refracted into different colours. My colour of truth, positive or negative, depends on my lens – my perspective.

Easter weekend message about Colours of Truth

One Easter weekend years ago, I received a needed message about colours of truth. Alone and in the middle of a divorce, I went to church. The theme of the sermon was Colours of Truth. The pastor explained how the first four books of the New Testament of the Bible are all about Jesus’ life. He highlighted the different perspectives and focuses of each of the four books and attributed them to the four authors’ views. I walked away that morning, understanding that my lens determines the colour of my truth. It was a valuable lesson.

Perspectives on South African history

Our teenager, shaping his perspectives, recently reminded me of the colours of truth. On 16 December last year, Zander asked why his friends in South Africa celebrate a public holiday. I explained that during the Battle of Blood River, the Voortrekkers made a vow to God that if He gave them victory over the Zulu forces of Dingaan, they would commemorate the day as an annual day of vows. After the 1994 election, this public holiday was renamed the Day of Reconciliation to consider all perspectives.

Recently, Zander had to do a biographical oral about an important person in history. He chose the life of Nelson Mandela. In preparation, Zander read a book providing a good summary of South African history. Emotionally, he shared with me his perspective on the Battle of Blood River.

“The Boers moved through the land of the Zulus and wanted to take some of the Zulus as slaves. This situation caused the conflict. The Zulus tried to defend themselves and had only spears as weapons. The Boers had guns and could hide behind their ox carts. Many Zulus and only a few Boers died that day. It is very unfair and sad. Why do we celebrate this day of vows? Surely the Zulus must have prayed too?”

Zander had a different perspective from the one I learned in school during Apartheid.

My colour of truth, positive or negative, depends on the lens through which I look. My colour of truth has an impact on my mood and my emotions. It inspires my decision-making. Colour is powerful. Situations often remind me of how important it is for me to revisit my lenses before judging or acting.

Kind regards

Emsia

Flowers for my mom at Keukenhof

22/03/2021 emsia.kruger

My image of my mom is a large bed full of brightly coloured flowers. Her lovely garden is her playground but also her hiding place. She shows her love with flowers. As a schoolgirl, she spoiled me on my birthday with roses from her garden. There is always a bunch of flowers in our rooms when we visit. I was very excited when the opportunity arose five years ago to show my mother the most beautiful spring garden in the world, Keukenhof.

Excitement and distress

I could not wait to share the news with her. Her excitement was as great as her distress. At age 71, she had never been overseas. Glimpses of Keukenhof on television were sufficient motivation for her to apply for a passport. She also bought a warm jacket and knitted a blue beanie.
My mother and I flew via Dubai and met Charl in Amsterdam. We enjoyed the different meals and wide selection of music and movies on the plane. She surrendered to the experience and ran when necessary to catch the connecting flight.

Our stay in Leiden was perfect

Our stay in Leiden was perfect. The bed-and-breakfast lady was a retired psychologist about my mother’s age. Because Dutch and Afrikaans are so close, we communicated and understood each other in our languages. Our hostess spoiled us with various Dutch delicacies. Every morning there was another homemade surprise, fresh from the oven, for breakfast. The language and culture of the Dutch programs on television amused us.

Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans and Delft factory

We planned our Keukenhof visit for later in the week. Meanwhile, we explored Amsterdam on foot and admired the people, thousands of bicycles, and historic buildings. When our legs became tired, we viewed the city from one of the boats on the canals. We visited the Zaanse Schans and saw windmills, craft shops and museums. At the Delft factory, they made the most beautiful hand-painted blue Delft crockery.

Tulip fields

The day before our Keukenhof excursion, we drove around between the tulip farms and admired the rows of colour. Sometimes we got out of the car to take a closer look and experience the wonderful smell of the masses of flowers. The image of the flower fields was my picture of heaven. We were amazed at the golden yellow Daffodils that emerged like wildflowers everywhere.

Keukenhof

Keukenhof was more than I expected. It was satisfactory to see the amazement in my mom’s eyes, and it was precious to experience her joyfulness. We were amazed by the many exhibits, colourful tulip varieties and other flowers. When Charl later noticed that we had walked more than 10km, my mom remarked in surprise, Hey, I did not even know I could walk that far!

This year we were hoping to visit Keukenhof for a second time. Keukenhof receives more than a million visitors a year. Keukenhof was ready to open on 20 March 2021 and started selling tickets online. However, the government informed them that the current Covid conditions did not yet allow them to open, even though their gardens are ready. Covid numbers in Europe are rising again, indicating the third wave. Fortunately, Keukenhof displayed their gardens virtually on social media. I, therefore, start every day with a quick visit to Keukenhof!

I wish I could surprise my mother with an unexpected visit and flowers. However, I am now limited to the tulip photos I send her via WhatsApp. Fortunately, I know from experience that out of the blue-opportunities do sometimes arise.

Kind regards

Emsia

Road trip to Journey in a foreign country

16/03/2021 emsia.kruger

Sometimes when we plan our road trips, God has Journeys of a different nature in mind for us. I will remember this past winter. Dalene and my paths crossed under strange circumstances in Europe during Covid times. I learned so much from her during the short time that I had a better view of her path. Let me share the story.

Spring is in the air in Mossel Bay! Dalene is excitedly planning their road trip when Burger comes home in a few days. He worked as a doctor in several African countries for 15 years. Distance is part of their reality, but these six months caused by Covid were particularly long. He comes home for six weeks to have fun, scenic drives and enjoy a barbecue every night. They can breathe for the first time in five years after the fatal car accident of Sumaré, their youngest daughter, a first-year student.

Burger and Dalene next to a map of Africa

The cell phone rings. The message devastates Dalene. Burger has had a severe stroke in desert-like Mauritania in Africa, his current workplace!
The phone call kicked off their unplanned individual and joined emotional journeys in Covid times with very restrictive measures.

An ambulance transported Burger by desert road to the capital, Nouakchott. From there, he flew by ambulance plane to Frankfurt, Germany. In Frankfurt, doctors performed an emergency operation to remove part of his skull to allow the swelling in the brain. Dalene resigns from her 21-year job and arranges to fly to Germany for an uncertain and indefinite period.

A map of the flight between Mauritania and Frankfurt

Germany

Upon her arrival in Frankfurt, hospital staff members informed her that she could not see her husband in the ICU due to Covid. Daily feedback was limited to “critical but stable”. After two weeks, the doctors transferred him to the neurological Schmieder Clinic in Allensbach, Germany. After another three days of waiting for Covid test results, she could finally see her husband. However, she could only see him for three days a week and two hours at a time. For the remainder of the time, it was just her and her thoughts in a guest house room. The environment was getting darker and colder as winter approached.

Their family and friends are worried and trying to reach out to South Africans who could help provide support. I was close enough to travel by train, and our and the Prinsloo’s paths crossed. Once a week, Dalene and I travelled by train to Konstanz, a village on the German side close to the Swiss border. It was cold outside, and restaurants in Germany have been closed due to Covid. We walked across the border to Switzerland and got to know each other over a hot cup of coffee in a Swiss shopping centre.

Dalene and Emsia on the border between Germany and Switzerland

Zurich, Switzerland

It became critical for the doctors to put back the part of Burger’s skull, temporarily stored in his stomach. Due to unavailable ICU wards in Germany, they identified a neurosurgeon in Zurich. The Swiss doctor had to operate on Christmas Eve, depending on the availability of an ICU bed. Burger would be transported to Zurich by ambulance on 23 December, and we would pick up Dalene by car. The ICU was unavailable, but for the first time in 10 months, they could spend unlimited time together on the 24th and Christmas Day.

The operation took place a day before the neurosurgeon left on holiday. The procedure was a success, but Covid rules were stricter. Many arrangements, letters and Covid tests later, Dalene returned to Germany in an ambulance with Burger. That was the last time I saw Dalene. After another two months, during which she could only see him for one hour a week, she excitedly informed me that they were flying to South Africa in early March for further rehabilitation there.

Burger and Dalene’s challenging situation, which they tackled with so much hope, faith, and love, impacted the lenses through which I look at life and privileges significantly. Covid circumstances are difficult for all of us. However, there are levels of difficulty. One example of this is an unexpected call to inform us that it is time for a journey instead of a road trip.

In memory of the strange times, I created a photo video.

Kind regards

Emsia

The rythm of seasons creates trust

15/03/2021 emsia.kruger

With spring becoming visible in nature, I experience a sense of excitement and new zest for life. The winter was long, cold, and sometimes alone as the weather made it difficult to get out of the house. The longer and warmer days and signs of new life in nature give me hope.

Childhood experience of seasons

Seasons have always made a big impact on me. As a child, it was simply the excitement and new opportunities that each season brings when you start to get bored of the same routine, clothes, and food. The Kalahari winters are short, but I remember hearty stew, soup, or pie in the cold evenings. After school we sat in the sun while my mother peeled oranges for us. The world was dry and dull.

The summers were long and hot, and we spent our available time at the town pool. Shoulder seasons were short, but I remember looking forward to the new dress my mom made for us to wear to school on September 1st. We wore our new dresses shivering but with pride.

Adult experience of seasons

With age and realities of life, seasons have taken on new meaning for me. Seasons that arrive on time, is the one certainty I can hold on to no matter how confused the world feels. This confirms there is a Creator who is in control. In the Western Cape, Autumn arrives during Easter weekend. It is the most beautiful picture when the vine leaves turn to shades of yellow and rust brown and the mountains turn a darker blue. There is something comforting about winter rains that envelop you like a soft blanket. However, after weeks of sitting under the blanket, one gets bored of being indoors and wants to feel the sun on your skin.

Over time, my understanding of the metaphorical meaning of seasons improved. The rhythm and balance of seasons as well as the important role of each of the four seasons, took on more meaning. My children’s trees of life are forming blossoms and new leaves and getting ready to bear fruit here on earth. Every morning the pains in different places in my body remind me that my tree of life, which is currently in autumn, is getting ready for winter.

Positive experience of winter

With the help of seasons, I can see winter and its role in a more positive light. In our winter seasons, we have the time and wisdom to provide support to those in need during various other seasons in their lives. For the first time in my life, I experienced a white winter. The silence and beauty of the crisp white snow took my breath away. I share the visual experience below.

Regardless of the season in nature, that is different between the northern and southern hemispheres, we all experience winter with Covid-19 restrictions. We all hope for Spring. One of our gardeners put it so beautifully: “At the end of winter it seems as if the Master turns on nature and everything suddenly starts to grow at the same time!” I enjoy every new leaf and bud outside and get carried away when I take pictures. I am going to be aware and excited about the growth that is going to take place with us as humans after the winter period, worldwide.

Kind regards

Emsia

Being tested on the Swiss roads

08/03/2021 emsia.kruger

Charl always dreamed of driving through Europe with a camper van. With the move to Switzerland, the dream came closer to possibility. However, there were a few hurdles he had to overcome for the camper van holiday to become a reality.

A South African driving licence is only valid for the first year in Switzerland. ŉ Driving test in Switzerland within the first year is, therefore, necessary to obtain ŉ Swiss driving licence. Everyone recommended that we take driving lessons before we conduct the driving test in German. If you fail the driving test, you must start at the very beginning and go through the learner’s licencing process. The process entails that you must pass a first aid course and attend classes before you can write the theory test. I decided I was getting along well with the trains, but Charl accepted the challenge.

Driving lessons

Charl is one of the most careful and law-abiding drivers I know. I could never have predicted the negative impact the driving lessons would have on Charl’s driving confidence. The driving school instructor was strict and quick to grab the steering wheel.

This whole driving lesson experience made me appreciate Uncle Schalk all over again. Uncle Schalk helped both Jacques and Christo get their driving licences. I initially sat next to Jacques while he was learning to drive. Every time we got home, I wanted a glass of wine. I enlisted the help of Uncle Schalk to avoid a potential alcohol problem. I recently wrote to Uncle Schalk to say how much I appreciated his compassion and care during his lessons and that his driving lessons were 10% of the price of the Swiss lessons.

Charl came home from each late afternoon driving lesson drenched in sweat. The short summer is hot, and according to regulations, air conditioners are not allowed. All the sessions also had to take place with a mask and plastic gloves. The mask also fogged up his glasses.

Some traffic rules in Switzerland are different from those in South Africa

Some traffic rules here in Switzerland are different from those in South Africa. Pedestrians, for example, have priority most of the time and vehicles are legally obliged to stop for them. When waiting at a train crossing, you must switch off your car and take it out of gear while you wait to limit carbon emissions. The different rules, speed limits, new unknown roads and right-hand driving caused the whole driving situation to be more challenging than initially expected.

Driving test

All the luck was on Charl’s side when he got a traffic officer who had worked in America for a few years and spoke English well. The officer made him feel very comfortable, and a few things went well early in the test. The confidence needle rose rapidly, and he obtained the papers authorizing him to drive in Switzerland.

We saved a bottle of South African wine for celebration purposes. Over a glass of ice-cold Tokara Chardonnay, Charl could start dreaming about a European holiday in a camper van and life without Covid-19.

Kind regards

Emsia

What I learn from my children

02/03/2021 emsia.kruger

Both Jacques and Christo were born on the first Friday in March. Jacques came into the world 22 years ago and took his time in his calm way. Christo arrived two years later, but due to his nature he could not wait to start his life. Three weeks before his expected date, he gave urgent notice, and I rushed to hospital with my car’s hazards on. Motherhood has meanwhile taught me valuable lessons.

Parenting is an incredible privilege. In my experience, becoming a mother was not as easy as everyone warned me during my teenage years. The role is also not as easy as it seemed when I was a teenager!

My parents love me infinitely. I only understood this the day I became a mom and felt like I was carrying my heart fragile and exposed outside my body. When I think back on my years as a teenager, there are many opportunities, situations, and words with my own parents that I wish I had handled differently. Fortunately, I now know from experience that a mother’s love for her children is patient and endures a lot.

Every human being is created uniquely. I realized this when I tried to apply my parenting lessons learned with Jacques, to Christo and Zander. Each branch of the family tree grows in its own direction to get its own sunlight and serve its own purpose. It is necessary for balance. One may never compare two people, especially children.

The Miracle of Life. It is amazing how a person develops from two cells within nine months and transforms into an independent young adult within a few years.

Do not judge other people’s parenting. In an Afrikaans expression we refer to young children as green wheat. Your own green wheat is going to give other people a lot of opportunity to judge you. In summer, the wheat is literally green on the fields around us. Sometimes a bright red poppy grows among the green wheat and it reminds me of Dr Seuss’ wisdom of “Why fit in when you were born to stand out”. It is especially these red poppies that give people reason to judge!

Parenting is an opportunity for personal growth. With each child I learn new things and must overcome new challenges in the circumstances, but also in myself. Each of my children challenges me in different ways. I learn about setting boundaries, negotiating, and being directly confronted with my own weaknesses. Sometimes I am guilty of unnecessary haste. I remember a specific occasion when a six-year-old Jacques said to me, “That’s right Mom. I will hurry, but why should we hurry if it is Sunday and we are just on our way to the beach?”

Amid many parenting challenges, the relationship with your child is the most important. I learned the hard way that conflict is part of the role, but that I must deal with the conflict in a respectful way so that the relationship does not suffer. I also learned that just like with a crisis, I need to make optimal use of a conflict situation for mutual understanding and growth in the relationship.

Each of our children grows up in his own circumstances. Everyone has their own challenges and lessons to learn. “In my day we did it that way”, are not words that help. Zander and Jacques are almost ten years apart and it is amazing to see how many things have changed in ten years that cause their growing up circumstances to differ in many ways.

I still have a lot to learn. Ever since your children were born, you have come to know the changing world through their eyes. I must work hard to keep up. Jacques and Christo worked on my music knowledge on the way to school and Zander has now taken over. Social media has created a whole new set of opportunities and challenges.

Parenting is not a journey that you can tackle alone. We need to be open to different inputs to help our children become balanced adults. When children suddenly grow up in two different homes, there are inevitably different views, challenges, and parenting styles. Parents and stepparents along with wonderful other adults like grandparents, family, teachers, and everyone who crosses their path help them find their way.

I am grateful for every person who play a role in my children’s lives!

Kind regards

Emsia

Uncertainty to possibility

23/02/2021 emsia.kruger

The planner in me struggles with uncertainty. Several plans in my life did not work out. Despite the uncertainty, the circumstances did create interesting possibilities and opportunities. In most cases, the failure or challenge was necessary to change my perspective and my actions.

I reflected on times when plans did not work out and I had to look for opportunities.

The first major panic attack recall moment was my final exam at University. Everything was in place to start working in Stellenbosch the following year, but then I failed one of my majors! My dad was called to help. Despite his own work problems, he had to take leave and take me back to Bloemfontein for an oral exam. He had to motivate and support his eldest who was in great panic. Support has traditionally been my mother’s role. He went to buy chocolates while I wrestled with Company Law and Auditing Statements.

The oral did not go so well, and I was worried. Coming home, my mother’s smile and bunch of flowers were a great relief. Prof called with good news. The crisis caused me to experience my father’s love and support in a different way. Our father-daughter relationship was on a new level.

My biggest life dream has always been to have children. After six years of one line pregnancy tests, praying and begging, we made an appointment at the Infertility Clinic. The waiting list is long, and the first available appointment is months away in July. My body feels weird and I do another pregnancy test a day before the appointment. The most beautiful picture of two lines greeted me and nine months later I got the role I wanted most – the Mommy role!

At almost forty, my path crossed the Infertility Clinic again. I recall the doctor’s words, “Science creates possibilities, but you must always remember that the decision is made by God himself”. I was eventually blessed with three wonderful sons. Candice and Justin also joined our family later. Charl who thought he was never going to have kids always says he has one, three or five kids, depending on how you look at it.

From negative pregnancy test to having three boys

Family is my joy. After twelve years of marriage, I realised during an unexpected lunch date that my marital and family life as I knew it had irrevocably changed. The uncertainties stand in line with their frightening faces. How am I going to pay off the house? Will I be able to cope with housekeeping and raising the boys? Will I, with all my complexities, find a partner for the rest of the road?

I converted and rented out parts of the house to meet the financial challenges. In the process, I got to know wonderful and interesting people in crisis years of their own lives. The boys and I had special times together. I was forced to improve my technology and cricket knowledge and had to quickly learn about irrigation and swimming pools. The Father also sent me a partner who sometimes understands and sometimes tolerates my complexities.

Switzerland and the future remain another major uncertainty and now Covid-19 has also joined the list. I did learn to trust the Great Plan. I am still trying to understand and working on the possibilities that the situation creates. In uncertain times I cling to words of the wise.

“Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our life’s, won’t have a title until much later” – Bob Goff

“Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible” – Mandy Hale

“Every problem, every dilemma, every dead end we find ourselves facing in life, only appears unsolvable inside a particular frame or point of view. Enlarge the box, or create another frame around the data, and problems vanish, while new opportunities appear.” ― Rosamund Stone Zander, The Art of Possibility

Kind regards

Emsia

All of us are part of history

15/02/2021 emsia.kruger

As a child, I could listen for hours to adults’ stories about their personal experiences of historical events or natural phenomena. We all have unique experiences based on the period we live in and the places we have been. I share our stories.

Floods in South Africa during 1988

Recently heavy rains fell in South Africa after the prolonged drought. That reminded me of the floods in my first year at the university in Bloemfontein in 1988. We were looking forward to our first short holiday in March. Arriving home, the floodgates of heaven opened, and it rained for days. The Augrabies waterfall was a spectacle, and the Orange River was flooding.

By the time we had to go back to university for our first test series, it was an impossible task because of the rain that washed away the roads. The drive back to Bloemfontein required careful planning. Our journey included miles of detours and was terrifying.

The 1994 election in South Africa

The 1994 election had a significant impact on world history.
Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa. Apartheid boycotts lifted that restricted overseas participation in sports and work. At the end of the exciting 1995 World Cup rugby final, Nelson Mandela presented the Webb Ellis Cup to South African captain François Pienaar in a rugby jersey. It had a positive impact on the hearts of all South Africans.

Elfstedentocht in the Netherlands

With opportunities offered by a new South Africa, we went to work and study in London for two years. In December 1996, we visited the Netherlands. This visit created the opportunity to experience the Elfstedentocht, which has only happened 16 times in history. The 200 km skating event only happens when it gets so cold that the canals, rivers, and lakes form a thick layer of ice. The circular route starts and ends in Leeuwarden, the capital of the province of Friesland, and it passes ten other towns. I recall the frightening picture of the rescue effort of a child who ended up in the icy water in a thin spot on the ice.

Lady Diana

During our last month in England, Lady Diana died. She was an icon. I remember how we, as school children watched the royal wedding on the big screen in the school hall at Kathu. With the announcement of her death, everything in London went pitch black, even the media boards. It was impossible to buy flowers. We, therefore, picked oak tree twigs to pay our respects at Buckingham Palace. I will never forget the morbid atmosphere in the city.

There are a few things I would associate with the strange Covid times. Large amounts of snow in Switzerland during our stay here jump to mind. I also sadly think about my longing for my sons and family that I cannot see. I will never be able to listen to the Jerusalem song without the tears flowing. Jerusalema is 2020’s theme song, which we now regularly listen to on Swiss radio here in Zurich. Worldwide, Jerusalema makes everyone dance.

September 11, 2001 experience

Charl was on vacation in the US during the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11, 2001. The fear, emotional impact and heightened security measures hampered their mobility and planned activities. Charl worked in Johannesburg during the time of the assassination of Chris Hani, head of the South African Communist Party. After the assassination, there were racial-fuelled riots and instability.

With PwC’s offices in Johannesburg’s city centre, he experienced the wild shooting. He also saw many corpses on the street and even experienced how a bullet hit an office window right next to him. He and his colleagues were regularly locked in the office building for safety. The instability influenced his decision to move to the Western Cape.

History books usually only outline the facts and consequences of important events. However, it is individual experiences and stories that give colour to this. One can only wonder what future events we will add to our existing list of experiences.

Kind regards

Emsia

Exceptional service during Covid-19 pandemic

09/02/2021 emsia.kruger

The world around us has started to look very monochrome due to Covid-19. However, a brightly coloured story is like sunshine for the mind. The golden story took place in a hospital in a small town here in Switzerland.

Hospital in a small town in Switzerland

The town is big enough for a government hospital and two private hospitals. Only scheduled operations take place in one of the private hospitals. The patients only stay a few nights until they are strong enough to go home after the procedure. The main aim of the hospital and staff is to take care of patients mentally and physically after an operation for a speedy recovery.

With the onset of Covid-19, the government announced that all non-essential scheduled operations must first stop to focus on Covid-19 patients. The hospital in the story does not have an intensive care unit, and the director realized that without scheduled surgeries the hospital would have to close during Covid-19.

He was still organizing his thoughts, plans and communication with staff when he received an important call from the state hospital. There are several people with Covid-19 who have indicated on their medical documentation that medical intervention should not be applied to them as they approach their dying hour. Connecting to a ventilator is an example of medical intervention.

Requirement for death guidance

The government needed the hospital as a quiet place with care where people could spend their last days. Almost all the patients were elderly. This request was a big shock because dying guidance was not part of the hospital staff’s training. Their forte is getting patients back on their feet after operations.

This hospital received 50 seriously ill Covid-19 patients. The staff cared for these elderly patients with love and care. All the love and care made such a big difference that 47 of them were able to go back to their homes here on earth.

After the first Covid-19 peak in Switzerland, the numbers decreased, and the government gave the green light for scheduled operations. Staff disinfected the hospital and got everything ready to resume normal operations on Monday of the following week.

The elderly patient wanted to spend his last hours in his birth hospital

On Friday afternoon, the hospital director received an unexpected call. A 96-year-old resident was very ill with Covid-19, and they knew his time on earth was less than 48 hours.

He wanted to spend his last hours in the same hospital where he was born. His wife, in her nineties, also had Covid-19 and came along. It was a difficult decision, but the couple checked into the hospital on Friday evening. He breathed his last on Saturday. His wife’s grief knew no end, but she continued to fight the disease and could and had to go home alone.

A week later, the hospital director received a call from the daughter of the elderly couple. Her mother could not get over the loving treatment she and her husband received in the hospital. Out of gratitude, the lady donated a large amount of money and requested the director to distribute it among the hospital staff.

The hospital director arranged a function to thank each staff member for their exceptional service. He handed out a special certificate to acknowledge each one for their extraordinary care during the pandemic. In these times, it was not their technical knowledge that made the difference but the love and care with which they acted. The power of love and caring was higher than that of any ventilator.

Kind regards

Emsia