Monday, June 27, 2011

Solvej's Memorial Service

Solvej's Memorial Service will be held on the 22nd of July at Jubilee Community Church, at 2pm. All are welcome - please come and celebrate Solvej's life. Thank you for your love and support. Solvej will be sorely missed


More information
Map to church building

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.

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...