Greetings to all our friends and relatives around the world. It’s been a while since my last update. There’s no way to sugarcoat this (I am diabetic after all) – my condition has progressed significantly.
As of this past week, I am unable to swallow, and now can only be fed through my PEG tube with puréed food and liquids – save for a few sips of coffee or orange juice. My breathing has deteriorated to the point where I must be on the BiPAP at all times. I’m now completely confined to my wheelchair as I cannot walk one step, even with assistance. I am transferred from bed to wheelchair to recliner via a ceiling lift.
The last 2 weeks have been psychologically draining. We need your prayers for me to face this difficult challenge. My family has been an incredible support. We are still praying for a miracle to happen. Thank you all for your love, support and prayers.
On a brighter note, I was able to see my entire garden this week. It was the highlight of my week. I’ve also enjoyed the company of my third son, Jason, who is visiting from Miami. The family will reunite tomorrow for a backyard visit – certainly something to look forward to.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
The Yorrickles 
Your garden looks beautiful Heather and Yorrick. I know Yorrick took great pride in his garden. God bless you both and your family – thank you for the update and yes, you all are in our daily prayers. Lots of love….Patrick and Valerie
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Truly heartbreaking to hear! But we will continue to pray for you, for we know the Lord is Good! Lazarina & Walter.
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My dear Yorrick .. I’m so heartbroken to read your blog , needless to say you are always in my thoughts and prayers ! I wish I could just hug you but for now sending you one virtually!
Looking at the small miracles we witness each day brings me joy and I know it does for you too.
Just take a day at a time and keep praying
Loads of love
Sharon Blanchette ❤️
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Dear dear Yorrick and Heather,
Be assured of my prayers. Jesus is with you through this heartbreaking deterioration of your health. Matter of fact I am going to double up my prayers for you. Am copying Cherylann on this message, I don’t think she receives it directly. I know she is storming heaven for you everyday.
Your garden looks beautiful. You deSouzas have green thumbs for sure – Edlyn has been posting pictures of his garden too. Both lovely.
I am still in Jabalpur. Not a problem when I am UP, absolutely awful when I am down. I am in conflict with myself when down, feel very alone and isolated, but don’t favour visits or calls!!! Mainly I loose my connection with Jesus, who I boogey with when UP!!! A horrible situation, but it is my cross, and I am no where nearer to carrying it well, since I was first diagnosed with bi polar disorder. Hopefully, at some stage I will learn to carry my cross, better. I am light years away from that learnt lesson yet.
Take care – or more correctly be taken care of superbly.
Love and hugs,
Pat
PS – I have taken the liberty of copying this message to dear friends of mine, who are great Prayer Warriors and belong to Prayer Chains and Faith Sharing Groups, requesting prayers for Yorrick and the family. Wilma please share with our Burlington group and CWL, if it is possible.
Sent from my iPad
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You are an amazingly strong man, Yorrick and have been in my prayers since your illness. You are a true warrior and God has brought you this far and will not forsake you. We are all praying for that miracle which you are so deserving of.
Much love to you and your dear Heather and by the way, your garden is absolutely gorgeous!
Will continue to uphold you in prayer, you are a true warrior🙏❤🙏❤
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Hi Bro,
Your wit, wisdom and wocabulary (as some pronounce it) are into shape as is your Faith and exemplary life. Happy that the family is getting together. The privilege of being a brother was realized last Sunday and you know we are storming heaven, every rosary, every Mass, the whole family.
Thanks for the much awaited blog, eagerly awaited by many.
Love you
Edlyn, Vivienne, Carlos,Roushelle, Alexis, Savannah, Mckenzie, Lisa-Lynn, Jonathan, Mya, Kloe, Lia, Irving, Lorena, Charisse, Mike and Alyssa…… Dad and Mum
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Love reading your Yorrickles. Very sorry to learn that you are on the decline. Our prayers are with you Yorrick and your entire family. It is definitely a challenge but like Heather often writes in her texts to me “walk with Jesus”. Your burden is heavy but God is WITH you.
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We are praying for your miracle
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Hi Yorrick & Heather,
Thanks for your update. We are truly inspired with the faith & fortitude with which you approach each day, as your challenges mount. We journey with you in prayer and spirit. Your garden looks superb..I’d better get to work before Eleanor returns and gives me heck !!!
Looking forward to our next call. Love from us all.
Eleanor & Anand
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My dearest Yorrick and heather
I am saddened and my heart is heavy hearing this news. Please be assured that today and for the next while a mystery of the rosary and a chaplet of divine mercy will be prayed for you and your family. May Jesus be at your side always.
Lou Ann
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Yorrick, sorry to hear of the decline in your health. We continue to pray for a miracle. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Heather and Yorrick, we will always remember how welcoming you were to our young family when we lived on Fullerton Drive. We’ve always admired your fabulous smile, enjoyed your musical talent and beautiful singing. The love of your children is a great testament to the loving father you have been and continue to be. All our love, Marianne, Victor and all the Hendrickses.
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To our dear friends and blessed family:
It is truly a blessing to appreciate the gardens, the flowers and the beautiful creation that appears before us…. in our own back yard! God is so good! John and I are so sad to hear of this recent deterioration of your health but we continue to pray constantly for comfort, support, encouragement and contentment, hoping that you know there are so many that prayer, love and think of you everyday. You have a truly amazing family and we thank God always that we have been so blessed to have our daughter and her extended family (us) welcomed into your fold! Keep looking upward my friend! You are an inspiration to many!
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Dear Yorrick,
I so enjoyed meeting you at our reunion and talking to you on the phone that I’m aghast at
the physical pain you are going through. There is so much we can’t control.
Be as cheerful as you can be because you and I will be doing the cha-cha-cha together soon.
Heather, you and your family are in my prayers and will be. There was a reason why we met after 50 yrs. Btw-I have a PEG tube also from last November. Who invented it?
Stay safe
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Dearest Yorrick, Our love and prayers are with you. I can understand the pain and suffering you are going through. our Lord will surely help you through this taking care of you. Your faith in the Lord and his blessed mother will surely see you through with less pain and suffering. Love Gavin, Betty, Jonathan and Melissa-Ann
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God bless, you continue to inspire us
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Dearest Yorrick, so sad to hear of your weakness. Wish I could just come and hold you tight. Praying for you and sending you hugs and blessings xoxo
Tehnaz
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Dear Yorrick. So nice to get your updates. Sending hugs and prayers from all of us… Gabe and Josie in Vancouver, Kevin and Chelsea in TO, Mike me, Alex and Lori across the pond in London. Your garden is beautiful. Love you too much
Carolyn
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Dear Yorrick and Heather,
Your fortitude and strength as your situation evolves is an inspiration to us all.
Also amazing is the love, caring and closeness you have engendered in your children and their families. Their love and care will sustain you through this challenge.
You have also reached out and brought so many of the extended family into your orbit and we have been richer for it. Thank you both.
We are with you heart and soul and are praying for that miracle too.
Audrey, Selwyn and the girls
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Dear Yorrick,
Thank you so much for your update. Through all your challenges, you still take the time to do so. I am so saddened to hear of your condition now. Don and I remember you in ours prayers everyday. We pray that God will continue to give you and your family the strength to bare your cross. It isn’t easy. You are not alone. You know God is with you. Stay positive. I know it is easier said than done. Your sense of humour is one of the MANY talents God bestowed upon you. I see that you still put it to good use. You are a real example for all of us. You show us that no matter the challenge, you accept it with faith and with grace. God bless you and your family always. We love you and will continue to pray for you.
Sao
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Dear Yorrick,
Thank you so much for the update. God has his own plans for each of us. Very sad to hear of your set backs. Praying for you and for God to give you the strength to carry on this long journey. You are fortunate to have your loving wife Heather and your beautiful family around you. God grant you the strength to fight as long as you can. I am not that computer savvy but will try to copy and paste your update to Gerry and Saturn. I know they too are praying for you. Your faith in God and positive attitude is an example for the rest of us. God bless you and your family.
Love
Lalita
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Love you yorrick and still believing in a miracle. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily. I plead Jesus redemptive blood on you, your organs, your throat. Receive it and be healed. Scripture says that “Faith without works is dead” May you be led by the Holy Spirit.
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Dear Yorrick
You are indomitable. You are right, God tests us by putting these our way. I know you will be blessed and everyone’s prayers will sustain you. Enjoy every moment.
Nina
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Dearest Yorrick,
Alina and me have been waiting for some news about you. Thank you for sending us your health update.
You have been in our prayers daily at Mass and the Rosary . We raise you up at Offertory. We are convinced that God will not disappoint you and us and has good plans for you.
May the Blood of Christ soak every cell and cleanse it, so that you are spiritually and Physically healed.
Our prayers for Heather and your children and their families too, that Lord gives them physical and mental health in continuing to be by your side and give you all the help you need
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Praise our Good Lord for your courage and strength to a positive outlook.
My prayers are with you and will continue. Stay blessed always 🙏
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Dear Yorrick,
I am really pained to go through the content of your blog.
You are going through the most difficult period of your life but it is heartening to note that you are facing the situation with hope & positivity with your whole family standing with you.
All love you deeply and are praying to God for your recovery back to normal.
I have seen rather experienced the power of love & prayers. They result in happening of miracles.
Let me share with you something I never discussed with you before.
My wife Neelam is suffering from Multiple Myeloma ( cancer ) since 2012. It got treated & resurfaced twice after gap of 3 years each.
Last year it relapsed again & her condition reached critical stage. This was the third time she was going to ICU. Doctors told us that she has to be put on ventilator and we have to be prepared mentally for the worst.
It is here that the miracle happened. We were all praying for it,begging for it and our prayers were answered. Even Doctors could not believe it and accepted it as a miracle as there was no other way to describe it.
She is improving & getting better day by day.
Her strength is positiveness, self belief & strong will power. Absolute faith in God & power of prayers.
My dear friend you have the love & support of your family. Their prayers & prayers of so many friends & well wishers and above all positivity & self belief. All this & faith in Jesus Christ qualify for a miracle which is waiting to happen & Godwilling will happen. God bless
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Dearest Yorrick, Heather and Family you are an inspiration to all of us and we are all praying for a miracle. May the love and prayers of your family and friends lift you up when you are down and enfold you every moment of these trying times. Your garden does look beautiful. Enjoy the special time with your beautiful and loving family. Love, virtual hugs and prayers from Godfrey and me. Karen
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Your strength and the strength of your family is inspiring. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Sending so much love!
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Dear Yorrick
You continue to be in our daily prayers and we immerse you in the Precious Blood of Jesus for a complete and miraculous healing.
Love and God Bless
Wilfred, Marise & family
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Dear Yorrick & Heather,
I am heartbroken to read this blog but keeping the faith and praying for you every day. May our Lord give you strength to go through this trying time 🙏
Btw your garden looks beautiful as always 😍
Sending lots of love and healing hugs to you both ❤️
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Our hearts go out to you Yorick. We’ve known you as a person full of zest for life, family, friends and music. We’ve always been in awe of your many talents, including cooking which we had the opportunity to taste when we visited you a couple of years ago. 👌
You have an indomitable spirit that has helped you weather this storm in your life. You can rest assured that you are in our prayers. With Heather and your family around you and their immense support continue to keep the faith. May God bless you with strength and courage to battle the disease and may a miracle unfold.
🙏
Love and prayers
Michael and Wilma D’Souza
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Dear Yorrick, sorry to hear of your deteriorating health.
Know that you and your family are in my prayers daily. We know God hears all our prayers but ultimately everything is in His hands. May He grant you peace and comfort each day. Heather you are a tower of strength and praying that God will continue to strengthen and comfort you and the family.
Ps 91: 14-16. Those who love me, I will deliver
I will protect those who know My name
When they call to Me I will answer them
I will be with them in trouble
I will rescue them and honour them
With long life I will sat5isfy them
And show them My salvation
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Dearest Yorrick,
Our family is praying for you – you are such an example to all of us .Your faith and strength !!We are covering you by the Precious Blood of Jesus and surrendering you to Him. Lifting Heather and the entire family in prayer too!!Our prayer group is also joining us in prayer too.
Lots of love to you, Heather and the family.
John, Frederica, Shane, SallyAnn and Nicole and their families too💕❤️⭐️
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Dear Yorrick
You are strong as you are
On H I S shoulders
He raises you up
To more than you can be.
Yes. We have much to learn from
Positive Attitude and
Your close-knitted family
Filled with love and devotion
God bless you, Heather and
The big beautiful family.
Love. Charlotte Pereira
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