Daycare patients at Hospice East Rand celebrated their Christmas party with members of the public on December 2, at their premises in Kemston Avenue. A healthy Christmas lunch was served, with Christmas carols playing in the background. Seen here is a group of happy, smiling people, enjoying the party.
Image from Benoni City Times.
Edge Insurance Brokers donated a brand new vehicle to Hospice East Rand, to be used to transport patients. The money was raised through a two-day golf tournament. All the companies that sponsored the vehicle have their logos printed on it. Seen here are hospice day care patients, mostly from Daveyton, and staff members of Edge Insurance Brokers.
Image from Benoni City Times.
The Welsh Male Choir performed before a packed audience of about 550 people at the Northfield Methodist Church, in Northmead. An estimated amount of between R35 000 and R40 000 was raised for Hospice East Rand.
Image from Benoni City Times.
Miss Junior Africa, Reana van Tonder, visited Hospice Benoni on Friday, to donate medical equipment from a medical company. Seen here are hospice staff members (from left): Mirriam Mapela, Reana van Tonder, Elizabeth Sebesho and Sir Elly Radivoeva.
Image from Benoni City Times.
Hospice East Rand held a "Voices for Hospice" programme in the St Dunstan's Cathedral in Benoni on Saturday. the St Nicholas Chamber Choir performed and was conducted by Malcolm Chalmers (front centre), while Janet Chalmers accompanied them on the piano.
Image from Benoni City Times
The event was sponsored by the Hellenic Ladies Committee (venue and catering), Hecker's Nursery (plants) and Pick n Pay (gift vouchers).
Hospice currently has over 200 volunteers who assist in various departments such as caregiving, crafts, switchboard, HIV/aids centre in Vosloorus, fundraising, daycare, bookshop, charity shops, administration and executive committee.
Hospice offers a programme of care and support to people facing the progression of terminal illness and has rendered this service in the region for the past 22 years.♦
Congratulations to the students who successfully completed the Caregivers Course. Pictured above, from left, are students Carol Jukes, Di Taylor, Hester James, Fikile Nhlabathi, Dalene Roberts, Ruwayda Moosa Patel, Susan Goldsmith and Elly Radivoeva, who attended the Committment Ceremony.
who live with little hope
We are thinking then as one: each of these little boys and girls has a Mom who is HIV positive, or living with AIDS; each would be orphaned over the next few months and years. Some of the children are living with HIV themselves. What, we wonder, does the future hold for these children of Vosloorus?
Happily, this is a morning just made for smiles and fun, for sweets, juice and biscuits - and school holiday time to spend with Mom.
It is our auxilliary social worker Ragini and Hospice home care nurse Sindi who break the reverie by starting a dance circle with the children who join in with gusto: 'Clap, clap, clap, Are you ready M'am? Yes I am!' goes the chant. Into the circle goes a child who dances with joy before selecting the next child to enter the circle and dance. And the song begins again... 'Clap, clap, clap'. Suddenly, instead of feeling sad, we realise - as these little boys and girls clearly do - that there is still much fun and joy in their lives, and that there are people right here who care about them. There's an aura of real hope here, and you can feel it!
Ragini Naiker (above, middle left with children), is a much-loved member of the Vosloorus Day Care Centre's team. Like her co-workers at Vosloorus, she's a woman with a big heart, and no-one ever feels left out when Ragini is around. Best of all, she loves every minute of her multi-faceted job.
One of her tasks is to take family needs into account. "When a patient who has children becomes very ill, I look deeper into the family circumstances. Often orphaned children will have a grandmother or aunt to stay with; if not, I have to look at finding a place for them in a children's home and I must make arrangements for this," she says.
She's happy to be able to report with confidence that, in fact, the health of terminally ill patients always improves noticeably when they come to the Vosloorus Day Care Centre, thanks to the nourishing meals they get here. It's almost unimaginable but, for some, it can actually be the week's only real meal.
Last year Ragini arranged for two youthfull volunteers, Gugu and Zinhle (above, middle right), to come and help at the Centre during their school holidays. Both say they've learned so much from their experiences here. "We must treat all children the same way, whether they are sick or not. Here we learn to treat everyone with love, respect and kindness." says Gugu (16, right). What a great lesson for schoolgirls to absorb and practise as they go into adulthood.
Vosloorus patients are fortunate indeed to have a home-care nursing sister like Sister Sindi Mdlalose (above right). As part of our Hospice's services, Sister Sindi regularly visits hundreds of terminally ill patients in the Vosloorus area. She helps control unpleasant symptoms and makes them feel brighter and better with her competent manner and her caring, cheerful smiles.
The morning has been characterised by so much joy and I know I will carry in my heart this very special message: that we are all human beings with the same needs and frailties, and that Hospice East Rand plays a truly meaningful role in the lives of these struggling mothers and children - and indeed in the whole of the impoverished community of Vosloorus.♦
That's what makes our Hospice Frail Care Centre such a special, unique place. It is a facility that residents pay for, often with help from family members, but one which nevertheless can be truly described as a kind of oasis in the desert of quality care for the aged. Here patients, or residents, maintain their personal dignity and enjoy the home comforts we offer in a very secure environment. Many bring with them their own precious pictures, photographs and ornaments for their rooms, and this is encouraged as it creates a sense of belonging. Nursing care, physiotherapy, a weekly hairdressing sevice and the Hospice doctor are all on hand and residents who are mobile can relax in a lovely garden or take a walk.
Change does not come easily when you are old and probably pretty set in your ways. Loss of independence and, often, their own deteriorating health and abilities can have an adverse effect on even the best-natured elderly people. Here friends and relatives are able to visit and there are other residents with whom they can make friends. In addition, meals are not only nourishing but appropriate for people who eat smaller, more digestible kind of meals. Nursing and other staff are courteous, gentle and patient - all of which puts residents as ease and helps them feel they are still individuals with some control over what happens in their own lives, even though their circumstances have changed.
It's this mix of kindness, compassion, understanding and care which makes those last precious years of life a time of enjoyment for our elderly and frail residents.♦
By January it was different. Gentle Maryna came to stay in our Frail Care Centre for longer-term patients. She had advanced breast cancer which had by then spread pretty much all over her body and she could no longer care for herself or her young son. She died on 13th April, just two weeks after she'd invited us to hear her story for the Hospice Times newsletter.
The tragedy of her life is that Maryna was only 44 when she died, an age when most of us are in the prime of our lives. The positive side is that she was at peace. It was something she wanted us to know... and something she wanted to leave behind as a kind of legacy for her loved ones and others facing the trauma of terminal illness.
Maryna grew up in the Johannesburg suburb of Northcliff but later lived in Nigel. She had a daughter, now 24, and, when she remarried, she had a son who at 16 is still at school. He will continue to live with his Dad in Potchefstroom. Although she and her husband eventually divorced, they remained on good terms.
Maryna had a family history of breast cancer. In fact, her Mom died of it. So, when she discovered a lump in one of her breasts nine years ago, she had a mammogram. It proved negative. But Maryna was worried and went to another doctor who did a needle biopsy. She had cancer of the breast. A double mastectomy followed. Her son was then only 5 years old, her daughter barely a teenager, and it was part of her sadness that she had been ill for so much of her children's childhood. Despite radiation, chemotherapy and having to undergo 14 operations over the last few years, the cancer continued to spread.
No-one faces their own impending death without sorrow, anger and feelings of hopelessness. Few give up without a fight. And neither did Maryna. But the odds were stacked against her. By the time she was admitted to Hospice, she had made a personal decision to stop all treatment. "My life sort of stopped at the age of 35," she told us sadly. "I used to be angry and very negative, and I still have days when I cry and cry to think of all that I am leaving behind. But I do cheer up and then I feel better. I love having my family visit me, including my father who is here often. It always makes it easier. Hospice is a wonderful, caring place. Although I was a bit fearful about coming in, I feel very at home here."
Maryna said she believed her cancer was a kind of test and that each of us in life is tested by a loving God. If it is as she believed, then Maryna passed her own personal test of courage and understanding with flying colours.♦
They walked for around 7.5 hours each day; some parts of the Wall were narrow and dangerous and their guide kept reminding them that it was "Safety First". The villages in which they stayed and the scenery were beautiful, but she had not realised that rural Chinese people live in such poverty.
Sue speaks of the courage and determination of all the walkers - three were cancer survivors - and of the great camaraderie and good friendships that developed between them all.
Speaking after their 13th April return, she was exhilerated. "It was an amazing experience and I'd do it again next year in another country if it's possible" she says. "I realise that there are so many Hospice patients in their last stages of life, preparing for death, and that I am still fit enough to do something to help. I feel deeply humbled by that. "So far a whopping R25 000 has been raised - with R5 000 of it coming from the Boksburg Chamber of Commerce on her return - and the money is still coming in. She will continue raising money until the end of May, when she will hand over the total amount she and Vivianne have raised. You can see them on their trip by visiting the website: www.desandjenny.co.za ♦
BENONI AURORA ROTARY CLUB. These long-time supporters of ours recently donated 5 sets of useful bed sides for the IPU.
ZF SACHS SA - for their continued financial support for the vital Vosloorus Day Care project.
KNIGHTS OF DA GAMA - SPRINGS, AJAY SALES, NATIONAL LOTTERY, CZ ELECTRONICS, ABERDARE CABLES, ST CHAD'S - EDENVALE, ESKOM, KAZI MINGI NURSERY, TIMKEN SA, SPARTAN TRUCK HIRE, TIMBER & BOARDS EXPRESS, TELSTEEL ACCOUNTS, UNITED INTERNATIONAL PICTURES, SARENS SA, FIRST RAND FOUNDATION, GREG DOWLING, MR H FIRTH, CE ROSE, VAL BARKER.♦
Rest in peace, Cookie. you will be missed. ♦
Most Hospice patients enjoy this special time with loved ones who fetch them for the day or a weekend. Others simply take things in their stride, spending quiet time alone. Yet many patients experience both loneliness and sadness over this time, even when surrounded by loved ones and family activity. Rather than a comfort, it seems that this special, heartwarming time of the year can bring their situation into focus.
It's not easy for those who've lost a loved one, either. When a couple has had many wonderful Christmasses together, for example, it can be really hard to cope after one partner dies. For Jackie Weatherdon, whose 51 year old husband, Des, died in May last year, there'll be many poignant moments this festive season. She says the gap his death left in her life will always be just that... a gap.
In August 2005 Des discovered that he had advanced pancreatic cancer which metastasised into his bones. Jackie remembers how much she learned about her husband over that time. "I realised how courageous he was during his illness and how much he really cared about how other people were feeling. He rarely focused on his own pain or discomfort," she says. "In fact, he spent his last few months ensuring that I would be financially independent and able to cope without him. This Christmas I will make time for my happiest memories of Des. I'll also spend time with Molly and Hamish, our two dogs that Des loved so much, and I'll go to church before having lunch with good friends."
Patients on our community home-care programme usually live at home with one or more family caregivers; the hospice nurse visits regularly to assist in their care. One such patient is Susan, now 65; she's looking forward to going with her husband to spend a special day with their daughter and granddaughter. "Although I have cancer of the breast and spine, I know that life is about winning and losing - I try to do both graciously," she says with a smile. Another such patient is 47 year old Ilze-Marie. A former stock controller, Ilze says she isn't someone who feels lonely; her son will spend Christmas with her.
Milly, a sprightly 92, will spend time with her son and his wife Freda, who started coming to day care a short while ago, says she will be enjoying a family get-together. Isaac, who lives in Daveyton and looks forward to coming to day care each week because he's made such good friends here, will spend a quiet day at home alone at Christmas. Busi, 40, and her two children will spend a family day together, while Simphiwe, whose wife died last year, will try and visit his family for Christmas.
Our Hospice has a special centre for the frail, the elderly and long-term patients. Maureen, who's anticipating a fun-filled Christmas day with friends who will fetch her for a sumptuous meal, has been with us for a few years now. She is someone who always tries to make the best of her situation.
There won't be much in the way of festivities for most patients at Vosloorus Day Care Centre, who face financial difficulties in addition to coping with their illness.
For all of them, their twice weekly visits to the centre are eagerly anticipated. During December, our Hospice will hold a festive party at the centre to brighten patients lives; they're all looking forward to it. Despite the kind of personal difficulties that would lead many of us to despair, these patients are pretty courageous, and generally try to look on the brighter side of life.
Cancer patient Mapule has been coming to Vosloorus Day Care since it opened. She and her nine year old daughter will be going to her family, who live close by, to spend Christmas. Bongi, 27, will spend the holiday quietly at home with her child. Deborah, who lives with her three adult children, will go to the morning service at St James Apostle Church in Vosloorus to thank God for what she has, despite facing a financially-bleak Christmas. Norman, 36, lives with his two brothers. His family is from the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands and, although he'd love to spend time there during the festive season, his car washing services in the Vosloorus area do not bring in enough for such luxuries. It's not much different for Elizabeth and her children. Her illness restricts her to doing small 'piece jobs' around Vosloorus when she can, and she says life is an ongoing struggle to make ends meet.
Life is challenging, in different ways, for each one of us. Our lives, like the year itself, has seasons and cycles. We all go through personal losses, too: it may be the loss of a parent, a child, a spouse or a friend. It may be the loss of our youth, our job or our independence. It's how we handle those losses that matters most of all. Letting our feelings rise to the surface as we experience them, talking to someone who will listen without judgement, and accepting and dealing with our sorrow rather than putting it aside... will bring balance into our lives, reduce feelings of helplessness and support our recovery as we travel through the seasons of our lives.
As the 2008 festive season draws to a close, the staff and volunteers of Hospice East Rand would like to thank our courageous patients for teaching us so much about the importance of living life each day to the full, to the best of our ability. We'd like to say how much we appreciate and value the support of our donors and friends, and to wish you all a memorable Christmas and festive season.♦
Our Hospice was recently accredited by COHSASA (Council for Health Services Accreditation of Southern Africa), a body which is recognised by the International Society for Quality in Health Care Incorporated.
The accreditation is a coveted achievement sought by most Hospices in our country, not only because of its international standing, but also because it is the highest form of recognition of a hospice's standards of care. It is also welcomed in terms of our ethics and credibility to enhance fundraising efforts from both existing and new donors.
COHSASA lays down strict criteria for all aspects of patient care, governance and management for any organisation applying for such recognition. The comprehensive procedures during the application and investigative processes, which took three years to complete, included close scrutiny and measurement of our delivery of palliative care.
We are proud of our work on the East Rand, and the COHSASA accreditation affirms our position as one of the top hospices in South Africa, on a par with hospice services worldwide.♦
Auriel Garbutt, their President, is seen above handing the cheque over to Hospice's Brenda Bisschoff (centre back) and Alma Endacott. Accompanying Auriel were (front row) Lionesses Phil Alder, Carol Harpin and Beth Smit.
MRS NOPPE of Bonaero Park made a kind donation of lovely handmade blankets and scarves to us which helped keep needy patients warm during winter.
The ASSUMPTION CONVENT SCHOOL held a dedutantes event in September. The funds raised by the innovative efforts of the young debutantes were donated to us. It's a great concept which also encourages initiative, responsibility and a sense of community in young people.
The thoughtful young learners of BETHANY CONVENT in Brakpan and LEICESTER ROAD SCHOOL in Kensington kindly collected money at their schools to benefit hospice patients.
We are also warmly appreciative of the welcome and generous financial donations made to us recently by: VULCANIA REINFORCING, CONSOL GLASS, BENONI HERITAGE VEHICLE AND ENGINE CLUB, BHULA DONATION FUND, CZ ELECTRONICS, U-CARE, ENTERPRISE MOBILITY SERVICES, HARVEY WORLD TRAVEL BENONI, KIMBERLEY-CLARK OF SOUTH AFRICA, LINDA LEWIS AND THE"YA'BOOS CHRISTMAS ROADSHOW", PL STEEL, RHINO VALVES, SPARTAN TRUCK HIRE, ATLAS BOWLS CLUB, ST ANDREW'S COMMUNITY CHURCH, TORNADO MARKETING, TIMKEN SOUTH AFRICA, ST DUNSTAN'S CHURCH, ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN CHURCH IN PRIMROSE, AA BEUTEL and PAMODZI GOLF DAY.
In addition, we thank ELEANOR PEARCE for the OKI laser printer, BRENTWOOD ASSOCIATES AND THE SA EMPLOYERS GUILD for invaluable assistance on all labour issues and CLINT CRAWFORD AND THE INKY SHOP in Northmead for the donation of a Samsung printer.
Too late to say Thank You... Although it is too late to say how deeply we appreciate their kindness, we are most appreciative of bequests left to our Hospice by the late JJ LABUSCHAGNE and the late WP BURGER.
Community kindness does, indeed, make the world a better place to be! Thank you.♦
EDGE INSURANCE held a GOLF DAY recently at Ebotse Golf Estate, raising a substantial amount in aid of our Hospice. The event was well organised and golfers enjoyed their day enormously. The cheque was handed over to fundraiser Michele McKenzie. We are most appreciative of Edge Insurance's efforts on our behalf.
Our annual TREE OF MEMORIES on 29 November was again a heartwarming and memorable event. It was held at the Northfield Methodist Church and, as always in the past, it was again a wonderful experience to listen to the Welsh Male Voice Choir.
An interesting event took place in September when a TOY RUN was undertaken by a generous group of bikers. The run started at a coffee shop in Great North Road and bikers rode 10kms to Hospice. The toys we received, as well as the proceeds from the raffling of biker equipment, were welcomed.
In October the East Rand Mall hosted our HAIRLESS FOR HOSPICE event where supportive members of the public had their heads shaved to support and empathise with patients who have cancer. This event raised funds for Hospice.
There's no hospice in the world that does not rely on the wonderful work of its volunteers, and Hospice East Rand is no different. As in years gone by, we held a scrumptious VOLUNTEER TEA to express appreciation for the dedication, commitment and hard work of over 200 volunteers. The event was held at our premises in Kemston Avenue, Benoni West, where Pick 'n Pay Northmead Mall and Pajola Function Hire sponsored delicious food platters. The sweet voice of young scholar, Zulian Joubert, enthralled us all! ♦
In early 2008 Di was diagnosed with a brain tumour which brought about her untimely death in April this year at the age of 59. She is still sorely missed by all of us.
Di was a quiet, thoughtful person and popular amongst the staff. She was a kindly nurse who related closely to the comfort and other needs of her patients. They were drawn to her, sensing those special, inner qualities that she had - "her authenticity as a person, her kindness and her capacity for compassion," says Di's colleague and head of Hospice East Rand administration, Brenda Bisschoff.
Di, who was born in England, is survived by her two adult sons, who live in the UK, and her husband Terry.♦
GRACE YOUNG (left), a nursing sister whose wealth of experience has been invaluable to our Hospice over the past 18 years, says she'd like to thank Hospice East Rand for its never-ending support over that time, and to thank patients and their loved ones for all the hospitality shown to her. "When Hospice is asked into the home of a terminally ill patient, it is the beginning of a journey," she says. "It is the privilege of a community sister to travel a short while with that patient. I have never ceased to be amazed at the strength and courage shown by people during this stressful period."
LUCILLE HAGEMANN (right), who has been both caregiver and staff member over a period of 14 years, has also retired. "Of all the things I miss about Hospice," she says "I miss the people the most. They are like my family." Retirement has given Lucille the opportunity to rediscover her sewing machine; sewing is something she enjoys as much as she does jigsaw puzzles. Lucille still pops in regularly to Hospice, however, to help on the switchboard and see friends.
We wish both Grace and Lucille a wonderful retirement.♦
Estelle (right) with her Mom, Lenie, and daughter, Vicky (10).
I had to undergo lots of tests and it was a few weeks before I ever heard the word "cancer" - they discovered spots in my vertebrae and a lump in my breast that were both to prove cancerous. But that weekend that led into New Year's eve 2008 I kept it all to myself - had a good cry, questioned my faith, and decided how I would deal with life and cancer at the same time. I realised that God was very much a part of my life, and made up my mind to give my recovery everything I had... most of all, I realised that I wanted to live.
I wish I could say it's been easy, but it wouldn't be the truth. There have been times when I've said "Is it worth it to carry on?" - and each time something's happened to make me realise that, yes, choosing life is worth it... like someone phoning or sending me a thoughtful "sms". Depression is something I continue to fight, because I feel I would be allowing myself to die if I got depressed. But it's a conscious effort, and an ongoing battle.
I underwent a course of radiotherapy in early February and was sick for three weeks. Then it was time for chemotherapy: I felt really afraid, and began to cry, but the nurse sat me between two really kind women who gave me a lot of encouragement about carrying on my life as normally as possible. It worked: just four days later I was back at work - tired, but determined. In fact, when my fantastic colleagues in the administration section of the Education Department where I've worked for the past 17 years, kindly ran around to do all the fetching and carrying for me, I had to ask them to stop because I wanted to do things for myself. The chemo's taken away about 90% of the pain in my leg, which is a great relief.
Having cancer has taught me a lot of things... like the importance of having a positive attitude and of living life to the full. Cancer's also helped strengthen my personal faith so that I have no fear of death. In fact, I see this as my opportunity to prove what I believe spiritually.
In the past I've always been stubborn about letting others help me, yet now I'm comfortable accepting assistance from friends and family when I need it. I've realised what wonderful friends I have: the people at church, for example, arranged a reliable take-and-fetch schedule for all my radiotherapy sessions. My children have realised that there's a lot they can do to help, too. My parents live on the same property and my Mom has taken over some of the household chores for me. She calls it "sharing my burden".
Cancer's given me the opportunity to prioritise, to differentiate between what's really important and what's not; I've learned to let go of things that don't really matter, and to live just one day at a time. "Emotional alone-time" is special to me: I wake up early and start my day thinking and listening to the birds as they begin chirping.
It's not all plain sailing. Getting my children and my parents together to tell them that I had cancer was very traumatic for all of us. My daughter Vicky is only 10, Jean-Pierre my son is 14, and it's not easy for either of them to understand or accept what's happening to me, or why. That's my biggest motivation in fighting this disease for as long as I can: to be here for them while they're growing up.
That's mostly what made me take up the suggestion of a colleague of Dirk's (my husband), to get hold of Hospice - I've talked to Sister Sheila, the Hospice home-care nurse, about the possible need for the children to have therapy at a later stage; for now we're just keeping a close watch on the situation.
Hospice is also able to help with controlling my physical pain - but what I appreciate most of all about having Sister Sheila around is that she's honest with me, that I can ask her questions about what is happening to my body and she gives me straightforward answers.
She's also provided counselling recently for Margaret, our domestic worker, who became very upset when she heard I had cancer: she thought I was about to die. It's made a big difference: Margaret's now offered to give us some extra help when I need it, at no cost to us. Cancer often brings out the best in others, doesn't it!
Coming to terms with cancer - and although it's been removed from my breast and lymph glands, it's still in my hip, pelvic area, lower lumbar spine and between my neck and shoulders - is something I have to do afresh every day. It's a matter of searching deeply inside yourself to find your own brand of hope, the one that works for you.
To do this I try and take out the negativity from my life, and to surround myself with positive people. Fortunately I've always been a balanced person and I like to be involved in any decisions that directly affect my life. Hospice encourages me to do that, and they're on hand whenever I need them.
Cancer's taught me that I've got a lot of spirit, and that I'd truly rather live 100% for 10 days than 10% for 100 days. I think that, with the help of my family, friends and Hospice, I'm ready for whatever lies ahead of me! ♦
Hospice nurse, Lyndsey Prinsloo (right), with receptionist Maureen Kirkham.
Late last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump in my breast which proved malignant. I was very afraid. Now I'm undergoing treatment before having surgery to remove the lump.
My cancer has put my family through hell many times - not only the diagnosis itself, but because the treatment is long and unpleasant, because I've felt guilty (how could I do this to my children, my husband, my family?), because I've cried a lot, looked awful for days on end and often been grumpy. It hasn't been easy for them; my children and my Mom have taken it especially hard, I know.
It's been the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me. Yet good can come even from bad things. Cancer has put me more in touch with myself. I used to fuss a lot about things like my hair - but now that I have no hair at all, my family think I look great!
I've realised how fortunate I am to have the husband I have. He's always been the most amazing person and this has brought us closer. He's willing to listen to me talk about even the smallest worry I have. "Just to have you cancer-free is all I want," he told me recently. It's made me feel loved and cherished.
There have been lots of times when I wanted to wish my life back to what it was before, but longing for something I couldn't have would have hindered my recovery, so I took a decision to live my life to the full, accepting myself as I am now. I know I'm in God's hands.
Another thing that's been brought home to me is the kindness in people - often strangers. I've been tapped on the shoulder in the Mall by people I don't know, who've said "You're going to be fine". I went to a scarf shop to buy my first scarf at Christmas time. The shop owner smiled at me. "I don't want you to pay for it. Have a good Christmas," he said kindly.
Here at Hospice East Rand my colleagues have been really supportive, enabling me to do more administrative work rather than nursing, and treating me as the same person I always was. It's really restored some part of me and brought balance to my life.
I hope my story will help other people to know you can still lead a productive, normal life after a cancer diagnosis. I have no fear of the future and will live my life one day at a time. "After all, I'm not a 'person with cancer' - I am a person." ♦
The impact on our lives of chronic or debilitating illness and terminal disease is profound: they limit our choices, curtail our freedom and, very often, adversely affect our relationships and financial stability.
It may pay each one of us, therefore, to find ways to change our attitudes, create inner joy, and listen to our bodies, which can provide us with the best possible chance of a healthier, happier life as we grow older and perhaps more vulnerable to diseases like cancer.
Living fully in the present, rather than being trapped in the past, is seen today as vitally important. Yesterday is gone, leave it behind; and we can't possibly predict what is going to happen tomorrow. So the present moment is the only real time we have... practise making the most of it if you want happiness in your life. Changing old, negative attitudes, being willing to embrace new ideas, filling our lives with love and laughter, and accepting that the only adult person over whom we have control is ourselves... all these help us create inner peace and find personal serenity.
Listening to your body's needs is also very important: by eating fresh healthy foods, avoiding obesity, drinking little alcohol and exercising regularly, we provide our bodies with the right ammunition to prevent or fight disease.
By making a consious decision to change or lives for the better, and then implementing simple exercises to practise those changes until they become second nature, we are maximising our chances of a better, healthier and fuller life in every way.♦
A Hospice is not just about dying people: it's about people who are trying to live their lives as fully as they can until they die. It's about having compassion and empathy, about listening and really hearing what someone else is saying, whether directly or indirectly. It's about making patient and loved ones part of the team, about relieving unpleasant symptoms and helping families cope not only with care-giving, but also with loss and bereavement.
When a patient or family member phones us, courtesy from a caring receptionist is the order of the day. The call is put through to the Intake Department where details are recorded. Usually there is a doctor or hospital involved, and arrangements are made for a medical report to be sent to us.
Hospice home-care nurses are allocated to specific geographic areas to make visits to several patients more manageable. This nurse will visit the patient; she will talk to the patient, answer worrying questions with honesty, and discuss the situation fully with loved ones. Unpleasant symptoms will be talked about and problems like pain addressed. If a consultation with our doctor is required, a visit to Hospice is arranged.
Sometimes a family needs to be directed with regard to the patient's nutrition, hygiene requirements, bedsores, wound dressing and comfort. Where bedbathing is a problem, a hospice bedbathing team, headed by Scotty Dustan (a nurse by profession) (top right) is despatched to the patient's home to do a regular bedbath, making him or her much more comfortable. Scotty trains each bedbather herself and helps out where there are difficult cases.
Lucille Hagemann (top left), as Caregiver Co-ordinator, ensures that families receive appropriate emotional support. A request for counselling or someone who will sit and talk with the patient or family, comes either from that family or patient or from the nurse herself. Caregivers, who work as volunteers, play an important supporting role in Hospice Care. They are extensively trained to listen to and counsel the individual and his or her loved ones, separately or together. "It's hard to be a patient, but it's also hard to be a carer at home," Lucille says. "A Caregiver listens to understand, not to respond - she is simply there to understand, and this helps ease tensions and solve the many different problems that can arise in this situation."
Lucille also does bereavement work with individuals and families, including children, helping them address feelings of guilt, relief, anger and resentment. Our bereavement support service is open to anyone who has been bereaved, in any circumstances, regardless of whether a loved one has been a Hospice patient or not.
For many patients being cared for at home, loneliness is a major problem. We have a weekly Day Care Centre on the premises where patients can socialise, share a meal, enjoy activities and even have their hair done in our small but well-used salon. Driver Isaac Monama dedicates his Wednesdays to fetching patients and taking them home again afterwards. For many patients it's the highlight of their week.
In addition our daily Drop-In Centre in Vosloorus plays an increasingly important role in the lives of patients in that area, providing them with a place to go during the day, to enjoy a nourishing meal and to join in the various activities that are organised.
Careworkers, trained by our Hospice, offer a vital service in visiting Vosloorus patients, bedbathing and helping wherever they can. There's much appreciation for this service from patients who are sometimes alone and locked into one or two rooms all day.
Our Hospice also offers a Bereavement Social Group which meets every few weeks, and offers the individual who feels socially isolated a gentle way of joining in with a group. Phyllis Murray heads up this service - which is for the loved ones of past Hospice patients - and members have time and space to talk about their problems as well as to socialise. Trips to the theatre are arranged, as well as braais and musical evenings.
All our services are based on need, rather than ability to pay, and they're open to all. It is not only the many services we offer, but the compassion and understanding that characterise each of them, that makes our Hospice a vital part of the many communities on the East Rand.♦
He is 42 year old Isaac Monama, (left) who is married with three children, and our driver and general assistant at Hospice East Rand. He joined us in 1993 and worked as the gardener for about six years.
Isaac showed himself willing and able to do more and, in 1999, acquired a driver's licence and began doing collections and deliveries for our growing number of shops, as well as taking on the responsibility of fetching patients for Day Care and taking them back home. "I really love helping people," he says "and I think I make a difference to the lives of patients. I'm still learning more every day." And it's true: he does make patients feel special - they love chatting to him and he's a good listener, having completed our Personal Growth for Caregiving course in 2005.
Some of his greatest attributes are his sense of responsibility, his willingness to help wherever he can, his smile that brightens everyone's day, his good nature - no-one has ever seen him angry - and the sheer enjoyment he gets out of life. We salute your contribution to our work, Isaac.♦
GERMISTON ROTARIANS for manning the boerewors roll stall at our November fête.
ST DOMINIC'S SCHOOL for the funds they raised through their 2007 Debutantes project.
FNB for their continued support for our vital Vosloorus outeach project.
IVAN PACKONICK of JHI who generously donated blankets for our IPU.
CARGO MOTORS whose ongoing support in the form of an annual, and highly successful Golf Day has been of tremendous help to us. Their 2007 Golf Day raised R80,000 which was donated to us.
ZURICH INSURANCE for their generous R20,000 sponsorship for our 2007 Tree of Memories.
BENONI AURORA CLUB which has supported us over many years, recently donated six new syringe drivers - which are used to medicate patients - as well as a quantity of E-Pap.
NOMADS GOLF who recently installed a brand new kitchen in our IPU.
A special mention must go in this newsletter to NOMADS BOWLS - this dedicated group's commitment to helping Hospice has improved the comfort of patients and the lives of staff in so many ways over the years. Last year alone we received from Nomads Bowls 40 sets of cutlery and dessert bowls, fans, a ladder, garden chairs, gifts for all IPU patients, stainless steel pots, a counter griller, a water cooler, soup plates and a new stove for our Day Care Centre. Special thanks! ♦