Get Well Maxine!

(Photo courtesy of itsosuruh's Flick'r site.)

This is Maxine a year ago at her 19th birthday.

She does not know me, but I know her namesake: Dad and Bro Max Bravo. Father to our DeMolay brother and father of Maxine, Dave Allan (DAZB)

She's twenty now and is suffering from seizures brought about by a viral infection.

The doctors are doing their job to cure her and we can only pray for her and her family for strength and guidance. Pray that she will recover from this illness, that her family and friends be blessed for keeping her in their prayers. Most of all, for their support to keep Maxine well.

We know prayers work:

My grandson, Jaylen, who suffered from leukemia two years ago and is well now.

Another friend of ours, Eric, suffered from aneurism, been comatose, put under induced coma and now can walk and talk a bit. He is still in the hospital, but this is a great improvement from coma and aneurism. We just visited him the other night and he can even recognised us and communicate by hand signals.

We hope and pray that God give His grace and blessings to Maxine as well.

Jaylen Turning Lucky 7

Seven must really be a lucky number. Especially for our Jaylen who is turning seven tomorrow.

So on Saturday, 7 June there will be a special birthday party and thanksgiving celebration. If you are in the area please drop by to wish him well!

Happy Birthday Honey!

Honey's flowers from work.

Well, it happens to us every year, another birthday.

But this year, Honey received the best ever gift of her life... so it's not another birthday for her, or for us.

A few days ago Jaylen had his test, and today, Professor Glenn Marshall, Director of Centre for Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders, Sydney Children's Hospital (SCH); called to say that all indications from the tests are fine and there's nothing to worry about.

Mr December 2007: Leukaemia Foundation's "Nude Nuts" Calendar. See note below. (Photo by Charles).

So now it is official, Jaylen is cured! Obviously there is a chance for a relapse but we don't want to think that far ahead. We just want to savour this time and take things as it comes. There is no point worrying and fretting, and living nervously of what might lie ahead: it might or might not happen. For now, we will enjoy this triumph - full stop!

So a big "Thank You" to God and all our friends and relatives who prayed, gave support and wish us and Jay well. It worked! Thanks also to the staff at (especially at C2/C3 West, and Prof Marshall and his staff) at Sydney Children's Hospital.

Going back to Honey's birthday, a good friend of ours, Helene O moved to Queensland but managed to give Honey a surprise the other day. She knew that Honey would attend a training today; her birthday, so Helene arranged for another co-worker, Neola to decked Honey's desk with birthday banners and decorations yesterday: just to "remind" her of her advancing years. Thanks ladies for the effort and the flowers.

Tonight we just celebrated at home with a simple dinner and champagne, with three small kids and just the four of us adults, restaurants and sit down dinners does not work! But all the same, we are so happy just to have a get-together, knowing that we are all healthy and well.

The boys' present to Honey: they are sleeping over! That's why I am blogging...

Note: Just in case you did not bought one of these fund raising calendars, you can still make a donation to either the Sydney Children's Hospital or the Leukaemia Foundation.

The caption is a bit small, it reads: "Hi, my name is Jaylen, and I am five years old. When I was very sick, my hair was falling out and I didn't like it. But then my daddy, all my uncles and both my grandpas' hair fell out too. And they told me if I kept smiling, all of our hair will grow back. I think it's working for everybody except for my grandpas."

We will keep on smiling!