Olga Sparrow, b1c7d1

My mother was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 7 May, 1929. Her father, Edward Lehnberg lived in Wynberg, and she was born at home. However, two years later, her mother was taken from her, as she died during child birth, and as a result, my Mom was brought up by her aunt Bertha, and Uncle Tom Harvey.

My little brother, Edward was born on 18 December, 1974, and straight away, we realised that he would be severely handicapped all his life. My Mom was 45 when she fell pregnant with him, and when he was born, he was diagnosed with Down's Syndrome. He is a happy and contented man, but needs to be cared for all the time, and lives in a care home in Port Elizabeth. While he doesn't speak, he does give you the biggest smile when you go and visit him.

My dear mother suffered from breast cancer which then moved into her bones, and she was just skin and bone when she died on 1st May, 1996. Her sister, Eileen Cook, nursed her for the last 3 months of her life in her home in Port Elizabeth where I, her son, used to visit her every day after work where she lay in her bed. My Dad was not able to accept that his wife was so ill, but fortunately, my aunt had come all the way from America with her husband to spend 3 months with her sister, and nurse her at home, turning the home into a hospice. It was very sad when she finally passed away, with her family around her, although I was not there when she finally breathed her last. My sisters were though, and I arrived a while afterwards.