Increase Paediatric Palliative Care in KZN, SA

I cannot believe that we are already at the end of 2023. This year has flown by. As an organisation we have been privileged to walk alongside over 400 children and their families this year. A truly remarkable achievement.

During the course of this year we have increased our clinical team with 4 retired nurses, as well as employ a High Level Administrator to assist with some of the administration and fundraising tasks, thus allowing Dr Ambler and myself to give more time to clinical work. This has been due to more regular income and the incredible support from all of you donating through GlobalGiving.

As I sit thinking about all that has been achieved this year, I am also struck by the number of families we have worked with who did not get to celebrate the festive season with their children. I am often overwhelmed at their strength and resilience and despite the huge tragedy they have faced, they still think of us and wish us and our families.

For us as a team, we will remember 2023 for all the beautiful children who blessed our lives and their amazing families. One such child is Baby M. Baby M was born with a serious genetic condition, Trisomy 8. Majority of children with this condition do not live longer than 3 months. Baby M’s parents were absolutely incredible. Although they knew the severity of her condition and that she might not have a long life, there was nothing that they did not do for her or try and provide for her. Their tiny one-roomed home was filled with so many beautiful baby accessories, toys and one could feel the overflowing love and devotion. Baby M was a true miracle baby and through her devoted parents ensuring she could be the best she could be, Baby M lived with her condition for over a year.

As a team we are often invited to celebrate our children’s lives at their funerals, but it is not always possible for us to attend every one. Baby M’s funeral was very close to one of the hospitals we work in and we managed to get to join her incredible parents and their family in celebrating her life. One of the things that sits with us and humbles us, was the level of gratitude and love the whole family had for the Umduduzi team. We are so often the bearers of difficult news and the providers of comfort in devastating circumstances. This is what we have chosen to do to ensure that every child we meet with a life-limiting or life-threatening illness has the best possible quality of life in the time that they have. We are therefore incredibly humbled when so much gratitude is given to us; we were just doing our jobs, jobs that we love and would never change.

To all the Baby M’s we met this year, thank you for blessing our lives and thank you to your families for letting us walk your journey with you. As we enter 2024 we hope to make a difference in many more lives. We wish you all a peaceful and blessed 2024. Thank you for all your support.