In Memory of Gaby

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With Love from Gaby, Dave, Bonnie & Clyde

 auntyuta  Diary, Life in Australia, Memories  July 12, 2014 2 Minutes

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Gaby came down with poliomyelitis on her fourth birthday. That was in 1961. When she was 32, in 1989, she left institutional care and moved into her own home in Merrylands West, a Western suburb of Sydney. David (Dave) became her full time carer. But as a quadriplegic with breathing difficulties who needed to sleep in an iron lung, she needed several people to come in on a daily basis to look after her diverse needs.

Anyhow, Gaby was happy to leave the home for disabled people and move into her own home. 40 year old David did for nearly twenty years a marvellous job in doing whatever he could for Gaby. But in the end his health deteriorated more and more. It became impossible for him to the the things for Gaby he would normally have to do as her carer. It was a rather sad situation. Gaby knew that David needed help but she did not know how to provide this for him.

Gaby and David both loved animals. Soon after moving in Gaby acquired a companion dog provided by the people who train dogs for blind people. Dave liked that dog too. They called her Bonnie. A cat named Clyde became Bonnie’s companion. Gaby just adored her animals. They were like her children. She always saw to it that they had everything they needed.

Gaby with Bonnie
Gaby with Bonnie
Gaby with Clyde
Gaby with Clyde
Bonnie and Clyde in front of the gas heater
Bonnie and Clyde in front of the gas heater
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Bonnie is being spoiled!
Bonnie is being spoiled!

I happen to have still a Christmas card from Gaby and Dave with a calendar for 1998 in it. The card came with a book: A Tolstoy biography by A.N. Wilson, first published in Great Britain in 1988. This is a great reference book and a great read. Gaby chose this book for me as a Christmas gift. She did choose very well. She always took great care to choose gifts for all the family for birthdays and for Christmas. Of course her funds were limited. So she always looked for bargains. Quite often her choices were astoundingly good.

This is the outside of the card.
This is the outside of the Christmas card.
And this is the inside of it.
And this is the inside of it.
Gaby moved her electric chair with her chin, she used her mouth stick for phone and computer.
Gaby moved her electric chair with her chin, she used her mouth stick for phone and computer.
Here she looks like having grown up a bit more.
Here she looks like having grown up a bit more.
Here she is in her bedroom getting ready for the day.
Here she is in her bedroom getting ready for the day.
After Gaby lost Clyde, she did get a new kitten.
After Gaby lost Clyde, she did get a new kitten.
Blackie, the kitten, grew into this.
Blackie, the kitten, grew into this.
Gaby is having fun seeing Father Christmas.
Gaby is having fun seeing Father Christmas.

Sadly Gaby lost Bonnie. She was lucky that after some time she was given a replacement dog which she called ‘Honey’.  Honey was quite skinny at first but soon filled out a bit.

Gaby can celebrate Christmas 2003 with companion dog Honey.
Gaby can celebrate Christmas 2003 with companion dog Honey.

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Related

With Love from Gaby, Dave, Bonnie & ClydeJuly 14, 2020In “Copy”

RecollectionsAugust 22, 2013In “Life in Australia”

A Hearing, that took place for the past couple of Days, established that Gaby died of Natural Causes.May 12, 2015In “Memories”

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Published by auntyuta

Auntie, Sister. Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Mother and Wife of German Descent I’ve lived in Australia since 1959 together with my husband Peter. We have four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I started blogging because I wanted to publish some of my childhood memories. I am blogging now also some of my other memories. I like to publish some photos too as well as a little bit of a diary from the present time. Occasionally I publish a story with a bit of fiction in it. Peter, my husband, is publishing some of his stories under berlioz1935.wordpress.com View all posts by auntyuta

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10 thoughts on “With Love from Gaby, Dave, Bonnie & Clyde”

  1. cardamone5EditThese pictures, and your narrative, warm my heart.Fondly,
    ElizabethReply
    1. auntyuta EditThank you very much for your response, dear Elizabeth.
      Sincerele,
      Aunty UtaReply
  2. berlioz1935EditGaby was a great character and was loved by all who had contact with her. She never forgot a name or face. On Monday it is two years that she past away suddenly.Reply
    1. auntyuta EditTwo years have passed. We do remember her.
      Thanks for the comment, Peter.Reply
  3. catterelEditShe lives on in your hearts – such happy memories. Blessings xReply
    1. auntyuta EditThanks, Cat. 🙂Reply
  4. aussieian2011EditA beautiful sad story to read Uta, a story of a Princess and her Prince Charming.
    David is to be commended for his love and loyalty, that is a beautiful picture of Gaby
    at her computer desk.
    Regards
    IanReply
    1. auntyuta EditYou are too right there, Ian, love and loyalty do play a great part in this beautiful and sad story.
      Gaby at her computer desk, this is indeed a lovely picture. 🙂
      Thank you, Ian, for your heartfelt comments.
      Very much appreciated!
      Many thanks,
      UtaReply
  5. auntyuta EditReblogged this on auntyuta and commented:This is a reblog in memory of Gaby.Reply
  6. auntyuta EditJust having read the whole story once more and looking at all the pictures that go with it, I cannot help myself, I feel I want to reblog this again in memory of Gaby!
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Published by auntyuta

Auntie, Sister. Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Mother and Wife of German Descent I've lived in Australia since 1959 together with my husband Peter. We have four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I started blogging because I wanted to publish some of my childhood memories. I am blogging now also some of my other memories. I like to publish some photos too as well as a little bit of a diary from the present time. Occasionally I publish a story with a bit of fiction in it. Peter, my husband, is publishing some of his stories under berlioz1935.wordpress.com

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14 thoughts on “In Memory of Gaby”

  3. Cat, in a previous comment I said: “I think, Leni Riefenstahl has had an interesting very long life. Do you think she was good at looking after Nr. One?”
    For instance some of her friends had been Jewish, but under the Nazi regime she did not want to do anything that would have brought her into danger and not beng able to continue filming and so on. Maybe she just went along with the wind and was able to survive intact despite the horrible things that she saw at times – – –

    Reply

  4. What an amazing life Gaby made for herself. Adaptability is key to a rich life. I love her fur friends, Bonnie, Clyde, Blackie, and Honey, as it is clear she also loved them and they loved her back. What an amazing relationship she shared with Dave.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Linda, for your lovely comments about Gaby. I think about it every day how well she coped with a difficult life and how much she depended on outside help. She is a great inspiration to me! 🙂

      Reply

    1. Yes, Carolyn, the celebrations stretched out over many days with cards, cakes, and some gifts. I am blessed that so many people thought of me!
      Hugs from Uta 🙂

      Reply

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