Tristan da Cunha Family News 2012

Sunday 16th September 2012 was a joyful day for the parents, family and friends of Connor. Connor was baptised, by Mrs Anne Green, on the 29th September 2011 in the belief that the baby was “in danger of death”.

During the public mass at St Joseph's Catholic Church at 9am, the Baptismal Rites were completed by Mgr Michael McPartland SMA, the Apostolic Prefect of the Falkland Islands and Tristan da Cunha. This was followed by a reception in the Prince Philip Hall for the whole island. It had been a roller-coaster year for the parents, who were overwhelmed by the support of the community.

A message of thanks which was read at the reception follows:

As you all know, Connor was born with complications a year ago on the 13th September. He stopped breathing on a number of occasions, and on the 29 th September, the family were called to the hospital, where we were told that he should be baptised, as it was hardly likely that he would survive the night.

He was baptised, and spent two nights in the operating theatre, before returning to the ward. Where his condition was up and down after his feeding tube was removed. Again on the 27 th Oct the family were called to the hospital and where told that there was nothing else that could be done, and even if the feeding tube was replaced, we may only be prolonging the inevitable.

But the family were adamant that if he had 1% of a chance, that he should be given it, the tube was replace and he spend 77 days in hospital, 94 days before he was able to travel with a doctor to receive medical treatment in Cape Town, where he spent the last nine months, being treated at the Red Cross Children's Hospital.

So we are extremely grateful for all the support that was given to us, and the decisions made. To Sean the Administrator, The Island Council, the Heads of Departments who gave up 7.5% of their annual budget towards the medical budget, and although not all was spent on Connor, we are acutely aware his medical costs were high.

To CEO Kobus, who handled a lot of the arrangements, who was always sympathetic, your contribution to the island as a whole, is acknowledged. To doctors (despite conflicting results) the nurses and the community, whether it was financially, someone's time at the hospital, or words of encouragement, it all helped us through a very stressful year.

And for those in Cape Town, those staying in the Tristan House at the time we were there, Joy Eugene, Shelly, Shirley and many others, thank you.

And although Connor is not out of the woods yet, we can thank God that he has come a long way, and long may his health continue to improve. Where there's Faith there's Hope. After all, Tristan's motto is “Our Faith is our strength” . So let's celebrate his well being.

Thank You
Rodney and Sarah

We are delighted to announce the birth of Aiden Lindsay Repetto in Cape Town in the early hours of 13th April. Aiden weighed 3.4kg and is the son of proud parents Eugene Repetto and Kirsty Green.

Photos from Tina Glass show young Aiden on his own and with Kirsty in the Cape Town Hospital.

It is understood Kirsty and Aiden are leaving hospital on 16th April and hopefully will travel home with Eugene on MV Edinburgh which is due to leave Cape Town on Friday 20th April.