Welcome Home Guy

The Pinfold Hodsons had their first night together for two weeks last night. YAY! Apparently, everyone slept through the night! Meg and Guy woke up giggling and chatting, loving being back in the same room together. Cormac and I have been round for a visit in the lovely warm living room this afternoon. Guy ate avocado, ham and yoghurt for lunch (tiny amounts, but still good progress). Taking his medicine was a bit different. We gave Cormac some water on a spoon which initially made Guy take his from a spoon. But he is an intelligent chap and caught on quickly. After the first spoonful, no amount of Cormac pretending would convince him to take any more. So it was back to the syringe. As an observer I can let you know that this will be a VERY stressful thing for Bevan and Tess to have to do multiple times a day.
Bevan took the photo of the two boys in the hallway. The other photo shows the joy of doing something normal like putting both children into their PJs together.
What can we do to help?
As extended family and friends, we all feel that we want to be able to do something to help make a scary and stressful time easier. Having you read this blog is a real support to Bevan and Tess. They are also really appreciative of all the practical help you have been giving and the cards and letters of support.
Unfortunately, they had to invest in a lockable mailbox last week. They had parcels ripped open and things taken off their doorstep... I will leave you to form your own view on the particularly vile human beings who do this. You can also send parcels care of Nick and me at 18 Lingarth Street, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand. We have a big scary fence and secure front porch!
Apart from your prayers, I thought I would give you some ideas of really helpful things you could do:
To help Bevan and Tess themselves:
- Hanging mobiles, wall stickers, glow in the dark stickers etc for decorating Guy's soon to be refurbished new bedroom (re-insulation and non-allergenic carpet being done soon). If Guy is in bed, he likes looking up at the roof and the things around him.
- Vouchers for petrol, hardware, groceries or the chemist. Thanks so much for the petrol vouchers already sent, at $17 per day parking at Starship, not having to pay petrol makes a difference.
- Regular emails and texts of support.
- Meals when Guy is in hospital. So many fabulous people have been on dinner duty over the last two weeks. We need to keep mummy, daddy and Meg as healthy as possible.
To help Starship:
The Cardiac ward at Starship is a sobering place. It is full of shellshocked parents and very ill children fighting for their lives. When Guy is there he is not allowed to leave the ward to use the facilities in the rest of Starship. There is a playroom in the ward where Meg and Guy have enjoyed playing games and making art. Aunty George and Sarma found the "playroom wish list" and have already started sending bits and pieces to ensure that over the coming months/years when Guy is there, he and other children have lots of activities to do with their parents and friends. You can send items for the playroom - paper, coloured card, stickers, felt tips, glue, glitter pens, paints, balloons, games, puzzles, felt shapes etc. They also need a baby jolly jumper and the little bubble machines worked really well for entertaining Guy.
To help Heart Children:
Heart Children New Zealand (www.heartchildren.org.nz)is a voluntary organisation that provide education and advocacy as well as ongoing emotional and practical support to help families when they have a child with chronic heart disease. They visited Tessa and Bevan every day in hospital, gave them literature, information about parent groups and petrol vouchers and they are providing the CPR course this weekend for family and friends at Tessa and Bevan's house. They rely solely on donations and their annual appeal is currently underway.

Big e-cuddles to our darling Guy and a special e-hug for his his brave parents and beautiful sister. We love you.
Aunty Rachelxx