The silver lining on a very dark cloud

I refer to your article “The angel at your side” (Courier, June 27). Robert, better known as Bob, Pople who is pictured in the article was my father-in-law. He unfortunately passed away on Friday June, 20. Ironically the article came out the day on which his requiem mass was held.
Bob was a hell of a man who in his 80s was still walking five odd k’s daily and happily driving himself around. He had a heart of gold and determination of a lion.
After a three week stay in hospital, Bob was sent home on the May 12. He was then bedridden and the doctors could do no more to help. Boy, did he prove the doctors wrong in their assessment. He was at home with us and fought what the doctors classified  a lost cause for five weeks before he could fight no more and peacefully succumbed to his illness.
My wife and I had no idea of what to do when Bob was discharged from hospital, trust me. It appeared initially to be an impossibly difficult task, no one in the family had a clue how we would cope.
That was until the Ballito Angel, Jamie Ernst, came to our rescue. The Angel quickly organised the necessary equipment to keep a bed-ridden patient at home, she also spent many hours telling us what we would be required to do and visited Bob on a number of occasions to assist him in his time of need. Without the help of Angel Jamie, we would never have been able to cope.
Angel Jamie was there in minutes when we contacted her to tell her of Bob’s passing away and she helped us to accept closure and gave us a special strength we needed.
Angel Jamie, we owe you big time. Your assistance and guidance was the silver lining on a very dark cloud. No words can express our thanks and gratitude to this wonderful lady. Our thanks also to the stalwart “stay at home” private nurse Gladys Nzuza. She was also incredible and if anyone out there requires the services of a home nurse we can fully recommend her. Our grateful thanks to Shaun Paul and the Netcare 911 guys who very promptly arrived and confirmed Bob’s passing away.
We thank the Lord that our little town has its own Angel and would encourage our community to assist the Network wherever they can, be this in volunteer work or through much needed financial contributions. They are desperate for a laptop after their last one was stolen. Anyone out there willing to donate one to this worthy cause?
Thank you Angel Jamie for being the dedicate person that you are. Jamie can be contacted on 082442 2080.
JOE REELER
Ballito