“I’M  GOING  TO  CHINA.”
I am so happy to tell you all that I have been accepted at a hospital in Beijing China for Stem Cell Treatment.  I am just waiting for the dates from them and hope to be over there before the end of 2011.  This is the first real hope of some serious improvement that I have had.  It is cutting edge medicine and technology. 
Although I have made a lot of progress in the last year, I am hoping that this treatment will speed up my recovery.  I have made a lot of inroad regarding my hands and am now able to use them a lot better than before.  The main problem has always been with my eyesight.  This too seems to be a bit better.  I now see movement in my peripheral vision which I didn’t see before.  My speech is much improved and I don’t need Sue to interpret every single word anymore. 
It has taken a lot of hard work,
but as you all know
I have never been afraid of
going the extra mile.

The Stem Cell Treatment involves bypass surgery into my brain and lumbar punctures in my spine.  I’ll also be having ten hyperbaric treatments.  I am tired of being the way I am now with having to rely on everybody.  I used to be such an independent person.  Now I have the opportunity to do something positive.  It’s going to cost about R300,000 plus airfares.  I know times are tough out there for everyone, but if anyone is able and willing to assist me with a bit of help going over to China please get hold of me or Sue 082 788-6698 or (011) 432-4962. 
Sue, Roland, Hayley and I would like to wish you all the very best for Christmas and may the New Year bring us all our most heartfelt dreams.
Love Norman.

Update on Norman’s Condition – 18th March 2011

So, 2010 and the beginning of 2011 haven’t been fantastic. Norman was in and out of hospital from August and finally in February they discovered that he had a cyst on his spleen. The spleen was removed and he has steadily improved daily since then.

He is still not able to see, but much improvement has been made on his speech and on the use of his hands. Therapy, therapy and more therapy, and a huge amount of hard work on his part has made this possible. He is truly an inspiration to so many people and the amount of calls, emails and daily sms’s we’ve received from friends and strangers still astounds us.

A special thanks must go to “Tape aids for the Blind” who provide Norman with free stories all on tape. Also to Radio 702 for sending Audio Books. Another special thanks to Steve Tucker who took Norman to the Mighty Men Conference – yes they went camping! Thanks Steve it was a life changing event for him. Also to Clive who comes to fetch Norman each week to take him to Bible Study.

We had a good time at Michel’s 50th birthday at Shiluvari, and at Chris and Michelle’s wedding. The Sabi Sabi re-union was great and Norman enjoyed reminiscing about the good old days.

Hayley’s school held a raffle this year which Norman won – R10,000. Everyone agreed that it could not have gone to a better person. He’s also encouraging me to do some marketing on his photographs. He’s got about 5000 really good high quality slides – mostly of wildlife, so remember them for any brochures, calendars or postcards.

Read his stories on “A Rugged Ranger Remembers (NEW story Added 5 April 2011)”.

Keep in touch.
Sue and Norman.

Story / Update from Norman himself!

My new year started off with a BANG.  On the 1st of January I had another heart attack! 
On New Years Eve we went to a super party in Wartburg.  We had been spending a few wonderful days with my Cousin Cate, her husband Luft and their two children Nic and Claudia.  The next evening, in the middle of a discussion about Ken Hovind I began to get chest pains and was rushed off on the hour long drive to Pietermaritzburg hospital by Cate and Sue.  I had to say good-bye to my children just in case I never saw them again.  It must have been very scary for them!
I think what saved me was that Cate gave me a disprin under my tongue as soon as I felt the pains.
It didn’t keep me down for long and after three days we carried on with our holiday to Blythdale Beach.  I had to have bed rest for six days.  Cate and family visited me there as well as Dorienne Levit and her friend.  It was super to hear them.  So I lay in bed and listened to the sea and some audio books.  So many of my friends have visited since I’ve been sick.  I’ve loved seeing them all.  Herbie Rosenburg (from Australia), Michel Girardin, Warren Green, Mathew Greef, Henk and Carole Graaff, Steve Tucker, Debbie Fowler, Edwin and Janet Glasgow (from the UK), Wayne and Chris from Anthology, Greg Meaker, Tony Horn, Louis and Penni Korb, Takashi Miyata and Goki (from Japan)….   The list just goes on and on and I really appreciate everyone who has made the effort to come out of their way to visit me.

When we got home Sue saw on the doctors report that there was a stent in my heart.  This was a very confusing mystery as no-one is able to say when the stent was put in.  During my first heart attack in January 2007 they said that they did not need to put in a stent.  The doctor in Japan confirms that no stent was put in there, but the Hospital in Pietermaritzburg is insistent that I have a stent in my heart.  Maybe God put it there to keep it ticking !!!

In January I started at our local gym.  Thanks to my “Norman Mann Trust Fund” who paid for the contact.  I have a personal trainer there by the name of Wynand.  He makes me work very hard on the bicycle – I try and do 5km three times a week, and one day managed to a whole 30km.  I think I am getting better and better each and every day, thanks to God and his Grace.  I feel much healthier since I’ve been going to gym. 

A wonderful thing happened in April this year.  My friend Steve Tucker invited me to go with him to the Mighty Men Conference.  It was a six hour drive and we camped there for two nights.  I went and heard Angus Buchan preach.  It changed my whole outlook on life.  I received the Holy Spirit.  And I haven’t looked back since then.  Thanks Steve.  Also thanks to Grant for sending me talks by Keith Moore.  They have been an inspiration to me.

We spent six nights at Impodimo Game Lodge in Madikwe.  What a treat and how exceptional their staff are!!!  The game drives were all fascinating and I so enjoyed arguing with the rangers there.  Cornel and Chris, you are the best (well, second best, after me!!)  We had spectacular arguments/discussions about green things in the bush.  Are green pigeons really green? Or are they just green because of the food they eat?  Are flamingoes really pink or do they just turn pink from their food source?  The wild dog were plentiful and we had two wonderful sightings of them making a kill at the lodges waterhole.  I managed to do both game drives each day, but Sue chose to sleep in for the morning drives.  I’d like to say thanks also to Beckson, Patrick, Ernest, Benett (Mafuta) and of course not forgetting Lyne and Michelle.  Five star treatment all the way!

Our computer had a major crash last month and we lost all our email addresses.  So if I haven’t been in touch with you, please send me an email so that I can update my address book.  Our email is suemann@absamail.co.za 

Well,  that’s half the year gone already.  I am hoping to organize another fund raiser within the next few months. 
I though of a Quiz Evening.  Are you all up for that?

Pictures of Norman - Nov 09