'Public Property'

When the doctors sat us down together and told us it is imperative we take steps for listing NiQi for a lung transplant, we discussed raising of funds with them at the same time....we, knowing our financial situation at the time and they seeing it as a way to help NiQi because she had recently resigned from work.  I remember one of the Prof.'s saying,that once we go public, then NiQi must be prepared to have her life viewed from all angles and she will in effect, become what is generally perceived to be 'public property'.  Listening to it said then and living it today, I don't think we realized what it would entail....however the last few days have given us a glimpse of that and it has made me view life and circumstance through different colour shades.

There have been many people over the last year that have contributed to the trust fund that we set up for NiQi...some are close and dear family and friends, some are complete strangers, but all have done it from their heart.  Some have organized functions and held raffles, sold jams and jellies, put out 'change' jars for peoples small change.  Some have collected items from the general public for auction and sale, but all have done it with one goal in mind...to collect for the fund to bring NiQi closer to having a transplant.

Some months back, we were approached by someone we know who asked us to send through NiQi's profile so he could present it to a group he has contact with.  This group was doing a golf day fund raiser...we are not sure if it was to raise funds for themselves or for some other purpose, but anyway he was going to approach them about donating some of the profits to NiQi's fund.  We thought it very nice of him and sent through the profile.  A while later he said the group had approved giving a donation and he would get back to us when it was happening.  Last week NiQi had a call to say the golf day was this week Tuesday and it would be nice if she could be at the prize giving.  she was allowed to have a party of four attend, so she asked Johan and I - for moral support I am sure -  and Kyle.  The arrangements were very informal, nothing on paper, no notification in the post or by email, just word of mouth.  He said on more than one occasion that it would be nice if she could be there, but if she couldn't make it, that was also fine.  Tuesday arrived and we had already decided what time we would feed the animals before leaving.  The golf course is at least 40 km away from us and travelling in peak hour traffic, had to leave home mid afternoon to get there at 4ish...as we were told.

Well who would have known that we were going to have a huge big thunder storm pass over our way about an hour before we were going to leave!!!!!  After much quick deliberation back and forth between the 3 of us, we eventually decided that with the storm being as bad as it was, and also with a heavily pregnant mare stressing in the stable, it was best to let them know we weren't going to make it to the prize giving.  NiQi conveyed our thoughts and apologies and was told that it was fine.

Fine until the next morning.....yesterday morning, when Johan had a phone call from one of the people concerned with the organization who was really very rude to him.  He said it was absolutely unacceptable that we didn't even make the effort to attend the prize giving, let alone let anyone know that we wouldn't be there.  Being the cool minded person that Johan can be in situations like this, he said that we had let them know and it was a decision we made for NiQi's health sake.  She may be much better now than she has been in a long time, but she is still terminally ill and it wasn't worth taking the risk letting her out in bad weather. He then said that they must not feel obligated to making a contribution to her fund, especially if they felt she didn't deserve it.

So, having had a day to ponder on this, I am reminded of the statement that Prof. made that once NiQi goes public, her life will be an open book and she must be prepared to share it.  We have learned a lesson from this and that is to let people know up front that NiQi's health will always come first, so if they can't accept that, then it would be better for them to find someone or something else to support.

For all of you who have been angels in contributing without expecting anything in return, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts....one day we will pay it forward.