"When Humanity Comes Together..........."

 

It’s never easy to put into words what one experiences when visiting Hannah’s Pace of Safety. It’s hard not to come away emotionally affected by the stories that are told about the babies that are there. It’s hard not come away completely in awe of the work done by Janine and Dion Fabe and the team. Yesterday was again a reminder of the words coined by Greg Havenga. “When humanity comes together and walks in love, His great works are accomplished”.

“The team” assembled again to celebrate the culmination of another act of sacrifice. However the newbies to the group and some of the more seasoned members were taken on the tour of the nurseries. The most moving encounter was meeting Baby “Eden”. Baby “Eden” was born prematurely to a multiple drug addicted mother. As result she is suffering the effects of withdrawal symptoms akin to those that an adult would go through when going cold turkey. She has to sleep under a specially manufactured weighted blanket that simulates the effect of been held close to the chest all the time. She has to monitored twenty four hours due to the risk of S.I.D.S or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome to use the full term. She is not the only one. There are others just like her. Little lives suffering the effects of severe neglect and the even the most horrific abuse. Yet each one of the little lives there at Hannah’s are given a second chance through the care and love of Janine and her team.

Greg Havenga, AKA “G”, AKA “The Silver Fox” set of at the end of March to do the Tankwa Camino with the purpose of raising much needed funds for Hannah’s. The first such initiative was a huge success. So for G to take it to another level was going to need something truly special. He did exactly that by walking the two hundred and fifty six kilometres of gravel road from Calvinia to Ceres, with the fundraising once again being an unprecedented success. A huge donation from Australian donors Robert and Colleen Anderson made up the bulk of the cheque.

While we gathered to celebrate an amazing feat of human sacrifice and endurance, we were constantly reminded the life we live is never about us. We are placed on this earth to be of service to others. To see babies suffer and battle the odds is always heart wrenching. The little ones all require constant attention. Janine and Dion constantly tell of the many hours spent at hospitals and clinics. Many like baby “Eden” have an incredible will to fight and rise against the odds. But they need all the help they can get. To thus step in to the gap for these little ones and fight for them is always a sacrifice worth making, no matter how small. All we can say to Greg, the team and the donors is thank you. Know that you are making a difference in the lives of the little “Edens” at Hannah’s.