To reach the wider audience who know Joan, I am putting his touching email about his mother on the blog for all her friends to see.
Richard probably does not know that, as much as Joan loves us, we also love her very much. We wait for her emails.
We all will pray for her to come through this difficult time and hope she follows doctor's orders.
We also pray for her wonderful family (described by herself as "My very own United Nations gifts from heaven") that she is so proud of, husband Ron, Chhem, Richard and Tara.
GET WELL JOAN, FOR US!
And at this moment, even as she fights for her life, we remember Joan's Motto - "LIFE IS GOOD!"
Hi Everyone,
This is a first for me!
I am Richard, writing this on behalf of Mum (Joan Austin), to inform you that last Thursday, first thing in the morning after an extremely difficult night, Mum's Doctor rushed her off to A & E by ambulance with heart problems.
They kept her in A & E all day and because of her medical history, they conducted every manner of tests imaginable! The end result proved irregular heart beats. She does have an enlarged heart and a leaky valve, and has been rushed to hospital before a couple of times with heart failure, but thankfully, after a rest in hospital she is back home, with instructions to rest.
They have made her promise should the above occur again, she will not hesitate to 'phone for an ambulance and get to the hospital immediately.
Knowing Mum, I doubt if any of you really know or realize, what she has been through the past eight or so years.
She has a habit of making light of everything. She turns everything into a joke, despite how ill she may be feeling. She really has tremendous strength of character and an iron will. Everyone at the hospital love and admire her strength and courage.
(I don't know if you have any idea how she keeps one and all in stitches there - she doesn't care what she says or to whom!!) Even this time when she was taken to the X-ray department, we bumped into a Doctor that knew Mum from her Oncology days. He came up to have a chat and when she was being taken in for X-rays, he said, 'look after Joan, she is very special to us.'
Both Dad and I couldn't help getting a lump in our throats.
I know I am biased, but that about sums my Mum up. She truly is a very SPECIAL person. I only wish you knew her and all she is, like we and all she comes into contact with, know her.
A shame all the above took place so soon after Mum and Dad's holiday in Wales. They had a very enjoyable time and covered miles sightseeing, which they both love doing. All Mum came back with was fluid retention, which she suffers badly with anyway, but made worse because the naughty girl refrained from taking her fluid tablets!
Understandable really, as she would not have been able to get out and about until much later in the day - and she was not having any of that!!
Upon her return from holiday, Mum did get on the computer and was working her way through all the e-mails, and she did say all of you were next in line, but look what happened!
I sincerely hope I have remembered all her school friends in this email. It was extremely difficult sorting out between Mum's school friends from her other friends all over the world. She has a mountainous contact list! In the end, I had to make a list and Mum deleted or added accordingly - thank goodness!!
Tara usually does the necessary, but she is in Singapore to watch the Grand Prix and then on to Malaysia for a holiday. Mum would not let us inform Tara about her 'hiccup,' as she calls it! No doubt it would worry her no end and ruin her holiday, but Mum will catch it upon her return!!
Dad and I, also Chhem, Sue and little Nathan, join Mum in sending our love and best wishes to you.
Mum also says she will soon be back on-line.
My kind regards to all,
Richard
Thank you, Richard, for being in touch with us.
