The recent Olympics sucked me in like a strong ocean current. I was on the crest with certain athletes, their coaches, family, and team members.  However, I also shed tears about disappointments and dreams that did not work out.

The Olympic medal symbolizes hard work, dedication, sacrifice and patience. It serves as a motivation for the thousands of people fighting the pandemic worldwide.

Medal of Honour

We are familiar with the US Medal of Honour, the highest form of recognition a military member can earn. For some, the Medal of Honour indicates profound bravery and heroism. For others, it symbolizes enormous sacrifice, dedication, and service.

For people who receive the medal, its meaning is often deeply personal and filled with myriad emotions unique to each individual and their experience. It is a tangible reminder of a difficult time in their lives and often represents enormous personal loss and sacrifice. These ordinary people have done extraordinary things for a better future.

In the last year, I have seen various people who have done extraordinary things for the people they love. These people will never receive a medal for their selfless love and sacrifice.

Burger and Dalene Prinsloo

In a previous letter, I shared more about Burger and Dalene’s internal journey in a foreign country. After his severe stroke on 18 August 2020, Burger spent six months in hospitals in Germany and the last six months in South African rehabilitation centres. Dalene resigned from her job and supported Burger in every way possible. They have a team of therapists, family and friends who also support them. However, I can write an entire book on all their challenges over the past year. They both got Covid, among others.

They are currently in Johannesburg with their daughter to enable therapy for Burger. I share Dalene’s words from recent feedback.

“We are healthy, and Burger is progressing well. He can walk almost 100 steps at a time. However, his muscles are stiff, and he is experiencing pain with the sudden exercise after ten months in the hospital bed. According to the therapists, it sounds like we must stay here for another ten months before we can go home. We embark on the journey day by day in faith, and we know the finish line awaits!”

The pandemic

The pandemic caused a lot of trauma and loss, and many families have lost loved ones. Others lost their jobs or sources of income and security. It takes courage to get out of bed in the morning and fulfil your responsibilities. Superhuman strength is required to sit with your pain, study for exams and help with tasks at home because mom or dad is no longer there.

A letter from a young girl who recently lost her mom and dad touched my heart.

“I want to go buy buns after church on Sunday and steal a hot bun from the bag and eat in the car on the way home. I want to step into the chaos where you smell homemade food. I want to run fast to put on other clothes. I will quickly close my room door to hide the unmade bed and my church clothes still lying on the ground. I know mom does not make a fuss on Sundays. I want to turn back time and be at HOME again.”

To all the ordinary people who do extraordinary things, I want to say,

“Your attitude and perseverance, despite many challenges, give me and others hope and serve as encouragement and inspiration!”

Kind regards

Emsia