Taboo Topics

Steps Towards Transformation: Meet Hulisani Khorombi

I would like to think that I am good at putting my thoughts onto paper (virtual or not) but sometimes I come off as ignorant or unaware of something because the thought process that made me think or say something just wasn’t explained properly. So when the topic of transformation came up I was weary to even try to say anything about it. If you have been following the discussion there have been some really [...]

By |2014-11-03T23:45:41+02:00November 3rd, 2014|pain and Hope, Taboo Topics, thorts of other people|1 Comment

Taboo Topic: Living with Disability – meet Louise Bowley [Aspergers Syndrome]

My name is Louise and I have Asperger's syndrome. Not many people know what this is, especially those in the church. There are two polar opposite views that I have come across in the church when faced with any mental or psychological disorder. On the one extreme its total denial of the illness or disorder (something can't be wrong with a Christian) and on another extreme its you have demons in you and we need [...]

By |2016-12-02T17:29:30+02:00November 3rd, 2014|pain and Hope, Taboo Topics, thorts of other people|8 Comments

First steps towards a really new South Africa – a guest post by Nkosi Gola

My good friend, Linda Martindale introduced me to a friend of hers, Nkosivumile Gola at the TRC Re-Enactment meetings we both went to a week or so ago in Stellenbosch. When i heard that Nkosi had a blog i immediately asked him if he would consider writing a piece for mine. Not to give him an easy ride, i posed this topic to him - the fact that for white people who do want to [...]

Taboo Topics: Living with Disabilities – Meet Sabrina and Gabriella Del Fabbro [Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy]

Without getting too technical, the simplest way to explain S.Q.C.P. Cerebral Palsy - injury to the brain which controls movement of the body Quadriplegia (or Quadriplegic) – all four limbs are affected Spastic - spasticity in the body is high, affects the muscles, pulling the body in awkward directions My Little-Big Sister My little sister Gabriella, was born with Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy, three and a half years before I arrived in this world. Although [...]

By |2016-12-02T17:45:55+02:00October 20th, 2014|inspire-ations, Taboo Topics, thorts of other people|4 Comments

Taboo Topic: Living with Disability – meet Steph Mclennan [Ataxia – Mild form of Cerebral Palsy]

"Why do you wear those things on your knees?" "Look at Steph, she is so slow. Ha ha!" "Why can't she run and jump like a normal kid?" "Steph you're a freak." These are the refrains that followed me around as a child born with the mildest possible strain of Ataxia, which is a form of Cerebral Palsy. As an adult, I am incredibly fortunate that I now live a "normal" life, have a "normal" [...]

By |2016-12-02T17:32:09+02:00October 15th, 2014|pain and Hope, Taboo Topics, thorts of other people|2 Comments

Taboo Topics: Adoption – we meet Jane and Mike again [Successfully Adopted!]

Brett has been nagging, I mean asking, me to do a follow up post to the one we did on adoption to see what life is like two years after adopting our daughter Rachel. I have been putting it off, mostly due to legitimate reasons. We have became a family of four as I gave birth to our second daughter, Emma, and so life does have that frenetic/blurry/chaotic/kid edge to it that makes it hard [...]

Taboo Topics: Living with Disability/Special Needs – meet Rebecca Benn [Dyslexia]

Being a dyslexic: Hi there, my name is Rebecca Benn, and I suffer (although I find my condition to be a blessing) from a learning disability or syndrome called dyslexia. The dictionary defines my syndrome as a developmental reading and spelling disorder that occurs when the brain does not properly recognise, transmit and process certain symbols, whether these symbols are letters or numbers. What this means for me is that as a 20 year old [...]

By |2016-12-02T17:31:27+02:00October 12th, 2014|pain and Hope, Taboo Topics, thorts of other people|6 Comments

Taboo Topics: Living with Disability – meet Helen Laas [Soft tissue Spinal Damage and more – Car Accident]

A Tough Miracle Thanks, but I've had mine Every once in a while, when I'm feeling particularly masochistic, I pay a visit to a different church. All usually goes well on arrival. I find an empty spot along the side or at the back, planning a quick escape after the service. Then someone who knows me spots me, and my weakness appears... I love a good chat, and even more, a good cuppa [...]

By |2016-12-02T17:33:18+02:00October 8th, 2014|pain and Hope, Taboo Topics, thorts of other people|8 Comments

Taboo Topic: Living with Disability – meet Kashveera Chanderjith [Deaf]

AN INTRODUCTION It is a silent world, a world devoid of sound. It is an abyss of unknown tunes, of unheard melodies, of nameless songs. The world I belong to is a world where I wake up not to the shrill of an alarm clock, where I walk at the edge of the sea, but cannot hear the waves crashing upon the shore, where I cannot hear dogs barking or the birds flutter above me. [...]

By |2016-12-02T17:30:35+02:00October 7th, 2014|pain and Hope, Taboo Topics, thorts of other people|4 Comments

Taboo Topics: Living with Disability – meet Keith Slabbert [Quadriplegic – Broken neck]

Hi I’m Keith. In the early hours  of 26th of August 2012 I was found lying paralyzed on the floor next to my bed. I had suffered a seizure while sleeping and fell to the floor. I had broken my neck by fracturing my C4 vertebrae, which has left me to be a quadriplegic. I have no wrist or hand movement. I have regained use of my arms from originally not being able to move  [...]

By |2016-12-02T17:28:36+02:00October 2nd, 2014|pain and Hope, Taboo Topics, thorts of other people|4 Comments
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