Changing Perceptions 48

In this issue of your newsletter

Changing Perceptions 48th Edition

 Mandela Day  Ground breaking news  Life Membership  Executive Committee 2013/2014

 Diary of a Cerebral Palsied Twenty something

November 2013

What makes Christmas magic?

It's something inside each one of us – that desire to spread a little happiness ... to reach out to others less fortunate and do something to make Christmas special for them.

Right now you have the opportunity to sprinkle a little Christmas magic into the lives of children affected by Cerebral Palsy.

Many of those who come to our centres will spend Christmas Day in a wheelchair, unable to run and play like other kids.

Some may not understand quite what Christmas is all about. But they still find joy in a glittery string of tinsel, the sound of Christmas carols, a visit from Santa in his bright red suit, and exciting gift wrapped parcels.

Please help us to continue to give our children with Cerebral Palsy the best possible care.

We ask for a donation from you at this special time of the year.

Herewith our banking details to enable to you to open your hearts and give.

Account holder: Bank:

KZN Cerebral Palsy Association First National Bank

Branch: Pinetown [22-16-26] And your own joy will be multiplied - knowing you have shared with someone who faces so many Account Number: 508 11 33 0451 challenges ever day of their lives. THANK YOU! Reference: Please use your name and surname

P O Box 10213 Ashwood 3605 Telephone: +27 (0)31 700 3956 Facsimile: +27 (0)866 153 913 Email: info@kzncerebralpalsy.co.za Website: www.kzncerebralpalsy.org.za Our Association is a registered Non-Profit (002-154 NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 930000042) with Section 18A Tax Exemption status.

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Happy celebrations in honour of our beloved Madiba.

And

we are underway with the third phase of development at Reunion School…

This phase consists of four senior academic classrooms.

Left to right

Lindi Nyrendi (Deputy Principal); Edith Makhaye (Principal) and Pradeep Boodhoo (Project Build)

“Kindness in words creates confidence.

Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love” ~ Lao Tzu~

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The Association has benefitted from the involvement of Mrs Sharon Burdett over the last 44 years.

When her son, Paul started at Browns’ School in 1970, she immediately became involved with everything including fundraising.

Needless to say Sharon’s involvement never stopped and she was instrumental in the start of a sponsoring body for Browns’ School, the establishment of Pevensey Place in 1972 as well as the Chairman of the Association (for many years); under her leadership our two Centres, CREST and CWAC were started and then of course the establishment of the Sharon Burdett receiving her certificate of Honorary Life Reunion School in the Membership from Executive Committee Member, Jenny Pahl. early 90’s.

Sharon laughs when she says: “in those days it was a charity and not a huge business to run, like today. We survived selling old clothes; raffle tickets; cake sales; street collections and of course the collection tins. At that stage no big corporate involvement was done.”

Thank you Sharon for your tremendous dedication, commitment and unconditional work done for the Association and its people over all these years.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2013/2014 Mrs Penny de Vries Mrs Thabisile Sishi Mr Doug Hawkey Mrs Barbara Hollingsworth Mrs Anne Ford Miss Lettie Mthembu Mrs Judy Mackinnon Mrs Lindi Nyirenda Mrs Anne Fraser Nicolas has been with our Reunion School since the very beginning.

Wishing you a happy retirement!

Mrs Jenny Pahl Mrs Edith Makhaye Mrs Colleen Bailey Mrs Jill Thompson

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Diary of a Cerebral Palsied Twenty-something

Diary no. 45 by Penny de Vries

We had a big de Vries family event this year; Lesley married her long-term boyfriend David on 22nd June. In November last year, David had barely popped the question before Lesley asked Julia to be her Maid-of-Honour, a.k.a. Chief Bridesmaid. Julia was a little nervous at this big responsibility, but Lesley insisted that Julia was the only person she wanted to be sitting next to her on the big day and would not take no for an answer. She did have support from Ash, another one of Lesley’s bridesmaids, with whom Julia has now grown closer, which is lovely as Ash is a wonderful friend. The other two bridesmaids were in Cape Town and would only come up shortly before the wedding. The main task was to organise the Kitchen Tea so Julia and Ash had quite a few meetings to make sure all went smoothly. They pulled it off brilliantly! In preparation, Julia’s most important task was to interview David. Apparently this is quite a common game played at Kitchen Teas these days – the groom is asked certain questions, then the same questions are posed to the brideto-be and she has to guess what his answer would have been. Forfeits are paid if she gets it wrong. Julia added her own special touch to this. It would have been too difficult for her to write down the answers so she decided to tape the interview. This was a master stroke because at the Kitchen Tea, she played herself asking the question, Lesley gave the answer and Julia then played David’s answer. This was delightful as we heard David in his own words which added another dimension to the occasion. That evening they all went out for the Hen’s Party and Julia, wheelchair and all, was very much part of everything. For someone who often feels she is on the outside looking in, it was special for Julia to be included so naturally.

The big day dawned and we all spent the morning getting ready at David’s parents’ farm, where the wedding was held. Julia was a little nervous as she

was to use her electric wheelchair during the ceremony.

Not only had it not been used for a while, the ceremony was being held in the garden so the surface would not be very smooth. She was also concerned that she would not know where to go; her visual perception and directional sense is weak. As Chief Bridesmaid / Maid-of-Honour she would have to lead the procession. They decided her brother, Graham, would lead her from the house to where the aisle began and then she would simply have to drive straight. This worked well and the bridesmaids in their colourful turquoise and yellow ethnic inspired dresses looked so striking.

Julia then switched into her manual wheelchair so that when the dancing began she would be able to join in.

David’s best man, Paddy, led her onto the dance floor for the first dance after the bridal couple and he was very proficient at twirling her around. She told me later that one of the best things about Lesley’s wedding, for her, was that her disability was a non-issue and that everyone continued to include her in the partying. She had been worried about how she would get around at the reception but people were taking turns to push her (even those she had just met that day).

I think this is a result of the combination between Lesley’s accepting attitude to Julia rubbing off on her friends as well as the fact that Julia has become more confident in herself in these situations; more relaxed and less anxious.

Seeing my daughters growing up and maturing into this special relationship is heart-warming for me.