Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
24 June 2011
Solvej Riana Strandvik passed away peacefully holding her father's hand at 21:00 on 24 June 2011. She felt no pain and has gone to a much better place!
Solvej was an amazing daughter, sister and friend. She was and always will be an inspiration to us. We would go to visit her to encourage her and would find ourselves instead, strangely, being encouraged and lifted up by her. This is how she was right up until the end. Throughout her sickness I can't remember her complaining or getting angry or resentful once! This is how she was in life - a beautiful, caring and selfless person.
Solvej we love you and miss you. We are completely devastated and your leaving us has left a hole in our hearts. Your life was cut short, but we know you are where you want to be - with your Father who has been faithful to you and carried you through the tough times and has now carried you home!
Thanks to everyone for your love and support. We will post details of the memorial service when they have been confirmed.
Solvej was an amazing daughter, sister and friend. She was and always will be an inspiration to us. We would go to visit her to encourage her and would find ourselves instead, strangely, being encouraged and lifted up by her. This is how she was right up until the end. Throughout her sickness I can't remember her complaining or getting angry or resentful once! This is how she was in life - a beautiful, caring and selfless person.
Solvej we love you and miss you. We are completely devastated and your leaving us has left a hole in our hearts. Your life was cut short, but we know you are where you want to be - with your Father who has been faithful to you and carried you through the tough times and has now carried you home!
Thanks to everyone for your love and support. We will post details of the memorial service when they have been confirmed.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The Last 7 Months!
Apologies for the long break in communication. Below is a short summary of the last 7 months:
Solvej had her last session of intravenous chemo at the end of last year. The doctors decided to give her a break as she was responding well to the chemo.
On New Years day Solvej left on a little adventure with her good friend, Kathy. They took the Rovos Rail to Pretoria, spent a few days there and then flew to Vic Falls for a couple of days. They had a great time. It has been one of Solvej's dreams to go to the falls.
In the second week of January Solvej received some radiation to parts of her bone as a scan revealed some spots of cancer on parts of her bone, which explained the pain she was feeling in her body.
Gustav, Brenda and the children returned at the end of February to spend time with Solvej in Hermanus. We then joined them at Inverdoorn Game Reserve in the Karoo for a short family holiday - it was a very special time together.
Throughout this time the cancer seemed under control; the chemo seemed to be keeping the cancer at bay. The doctors then encouraged Solvej to go on an overseas trip to see her sister, Karin and her family, in America and then Gustav and family in the UK. She left for her 7 week trip at the end of March. She had a great time just being with family and living life with them. She also had such a wonderful impact on so many peoples lives while there. Unfortunately she started experiencing a lot of pain in her back and knees while away and had some falls where her legs would just give way. Gustav got her on to some pain killers to manage the pain.
She stayed with us for a few nights on her return to Cape Town on 22 May. It was sooo good to see her again and Chiara was delighted to see her favourite aunty again. It was hard to see Solvej in so much pain and finding it difficult to walk.
Solvej went for a MRI scan on the Tuesday. The scan revealed that there are more tumours on the brain with some having doubled in size and there is cancer in her spinal cord. This is not good news. The doctors recommended that she goes on a new oral chemo drug, which would hopefully alleviate the pain. She has been in Hermanus with our father since then and will be starting the drug tomorrow.
If you are considering visiting Solvej, please contact her dad in Hermanus and plan a visit of no more than an hour. Please also continue to pray for her and believe God for her healing...
Solvej had her last session of intravenous chemo at the end of last year. The doctors decided to give her a break as she was responding well to the chemo.
On New Years day Solvej left on a little adventure with her good friend, Kathy. They took the Rovos Rail to Pretoria, spent a few days there and then flew to Vic Falls for a couple of days. They had a great time. It has been one of Solvej's dreams to go to the falls.
In the second week of January Solvej received some radiation to parts of her bone as a scan revealed some spots of cancer on parts of her bone, which explained the pain she was feeling in her body.
Gustav, Brenda and the children returned at the end of February to spend time with Solvej in Hermanus. We then joined them at Inverdoorn Game Reserve in the Karoo for a short family holiday - it was a very special time together.
Throughout this time the cancer seemed under control; the chemo seemed to be keeping the cancer at bay. The doctors then encouraged Solvej to go on an overseas trip to see her sister, Karin and her family, in America and then Gustav and family in the UK. She left for her 7 week trip at the end of March. She had a great time just being with family and living life with them. She also had such a wonderful impact on so many peoples lives while there. Unfortunately she started experiencing a lot of pain in her back and knees while away and had some falls where her legs would just give way. Gustav got her on to some pain killers to manage the pain.
She stayed with us for a few nights on her return to Cape Town on 22 May. It was sooo good to see her again and Chiara was delighted to see her favourite aunty again. It was hard to see Solvej in so much pain and finding it difficult to walk.
Solvej went for a MRI scan on the Tuesday. The scan revealed that there are more tumours on the brain with some having doubled in size and there is cancer in her spinal cord. This is not good news. The doctors recommended that she goes on a new oral chemo drug, which would hopefully alleviate the pain. She has been in Hermanus with our father since then and will be starting the drug tomorrow.
If you are considering visiting Solvej, please contact her dad in Hermanus and plan a visit of no more than an hour. Please also continue to pray for her and believe God for her healing...
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Wednesday 3 November
Yesterday Solvej went in to hospital for a CT scan of her chest. The results showed that the tumors on her lungs have halved in size. This is good news and means that the chemo is working! The doctor has therefore advised that Solvej should continue on chemo for the time-being.
Tomorrow Solvej is going on a bit of a road-trip with Pappa, Georgie and Michelle. They are driving up to Britstown to take Michelle home and spend some time on the farm. Michelle has been in Hermanus visiting for the last week.
Tomorrow Solvej is going on a bit of a road-trip with Pappa, Georgie and Michelle. They are driving up to Britstown to take Michelle home and spend some time on the farm. Michelle has been in Hermanus visiting for the last week.
Monday, November 1, 2010
A message from Solvej: 1 November 2010
I have spent a lovely weekend with Ulrik, Andi and Chiara (she LOVES her aunty) in Cape Town. Thank you Ulrik and Andi for all you have done and still do for me. Chemotherapy was uneventful on Friday, however my port has entangled itself in my chest and I now have the chemo intravenously. This is not the ideal situation but the oncology staff are amazing and I have yet to have a bruised vein. I went for a chest X-Ray after chemo and Dr Hall is confident that the treatment has been successful. I am having a CT scan of my chest to confirm her findings on Tuesday, 02 November at 11:00. Will keep you updated.
Thank you Fairheads' friends who walked the 5 and 10 km iThemba walkathon this morning wearing "Think Pink Team Solvej" button badges. SO GOOD to see you and some of my amaBele Belle friends this morning. Well done to all of you. You make the difference and I hope you enjoyed every minute in the beautiful sunshine. I honestly do not know how to convey to all reading this blog the extent of the support and love I receive daily from all my friends and family.
Thank you Winkie for my new pink hat and to Nan, Michelle and Wendy also of the amaBele Belles who then whisked me to Observatory for my church, Jubilee Community Church's annual Thanksgiving service.
I will never forget this Thanksgiving service. It left me overwhelmed, 37 of the most beautiful, long-stemmed, red roses richer and knowing God's love through His community. Thank you Steve for your really kind and loving words. I know that God will be glorified through this.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday 20 September
Solvej is still staying with our Dad in Hermanus. She is recovering well and is feeling much more herself at the moment. Although she is still weak, she is getting stronger every day. Pappa is making sure she is going for regular walks around the block, which is great considering she could not even get out of bed without some help a few weeks ago. The idea is that she will hopefully feel strong enough to go on a little adventure with Pappa and Georgie soon.
The doctor is also happy with her progress and has decided that it would be best to continue with the chemo for the next while. Solvej will have chemo two Fridays on and then one Friday off and so on. She has had chemo for the last two Fridays so this coming Friday will be her Friday off.
Solvej had a great birthday on the 8th of September, surrounded by her family and friends. Georgie cooked a special lunch for Solvej on the day. A number of friends and work colleagues popped in throughout the week to wish her happy birthday and shower her with gifts and yummy food. She felt thoroughly spoilt. Sadly Gustav, Brenda and family left for home in the UK last Wednesday after a two and a half week visit. It was a really special time together as a family; the nieces and nephew loved spending time with their aunty and they were all very sad to say goodbye.
The doctor is also happy with her progress and has decided that it would be best to continue with the chemo for the next while. Solvej will have chemo two Fridays on and then one Friday off and so on. She has had chemo for the last two Fridays so this coming Friday will be her Friday off.
Solvej had a great birthday on the 8th of September, surrounded by her family and friends. Georgie cooked a special lunch for Solvej on the day. A number of friends and work colleagues popped in throughout the week to wish her happy birthday and shower her with gifts and yummy food. She felt thoroughly spoilt. Sadly Gustav, Brenda and family left for home in the UK last Wednesday after a two and a half week visit. It was a really special time together as a family; the nieces and nephew loved spending time with their aunty and they were all very sad to say goodbye.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday 30 August
Solvej has experienced some deterioration in her health over the past three weeks, involving some weakness and occasional difficulty in her speech, although she still makes us laugh! This has resulted in a need for a greater level of care and has been a concern to the doctors.
Consequently she was sent for a brain scan on Friday instead of having the scheduled chemotherapy session. Fortunately the scan revealed that the radiation has shrunk all the brain tumors and eradicated one. The radiation itself apparently causes temporary brain swelling, which may have something to do with the current deterioration. Although she cannot have more radiation now, it has bought her some time. Please continue to pray for God to intervene and heal her.
On the positive side, the doctors are happy about the fact that Solvej is not feeling any pain at the moment and are hopeful that this is a sign that the chemo is working. We are expectant that Solvej will start feeling better soon and that she will have opportunity to regain her strength and ultimately to do some travelling and visiting family abroad.
Solvej has been staying with her dad and Georgie in Hermanus for the past 10 days. They have undertaken the task of caring for her for the present phase and Solvej is very happy to be with them there and in such good hands. We have managed to arrange a tenant for Solvej's flat for the time being. Thanks Averil!
Karin is now back in the States with her family after a 10 day visit and Gustav has returned for another visit with his clan; they are all staying in Hermanus and making the most of their family time together. We ( Ulrik, Andi and Chiara) will join everyone for a few days in Hermanus over Solvej's 36th birthday on the 8th of September.
Consequently she was sent for a brain scan on Friday instead of having the scheduled chemotherapy session. Fortunately the scan revealed that the radiation has shrunk all the brain tumors and eradicated one. The radiation itself apparently causes temporary brain swelling, which may have something to do with the current deterioration. Although she cannot have more radiation now, it has bought her some time. Please continue to pray for God to intervene and heal her.
On the positive side, the doctors are happy about the fact that Solvej is not feeling any pain at the moment and are hopeful that this is a sign that the chemo is working. We are expectant that Solvej will start feeling better soon and that she will have opportunity to regain her strength and ultimately to do some travelling and visiting family abroad.
Solvej has been staying with her dad and Georgie in Hermanus for the past 10 days. They have undertaken the task of caring for her for the present phase and Solvej is very happy to be with them there and in such good hands. We have managed to arrange a tenant for Solvej's flat for the time being. Thanks Averil!
Karin is now back in the States with her family after a 10 day visit and Gustav has returned for another visit with his clan; they are all staying in Hermanus and making the most of their family time together. We ( Ulrik, Andi and Chiara) will join everyone for a few days in Hermanus over Solvej's 36th birthday on the 8th of September.
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