Increase Paediatric Palliative Care in KZN, SA

Wow! How time has flown since we last spoke and how things have grown! The work of Umduduzi keeps growing from strength to strength with referral numbers increasing daily from both State and private. Luckily we are in the process of increasing our team which will help spread some of the workload and help us see even more patients. We have also been blessed with another new team member who is assisting with our bereavement work. Having the ability to provide additional support after the death of a loved one is invaluable and families are grateful for this. It is solely through your donation that a nurse and bereavement worker is being added to the team. Thank you!

Our play and stimulation programmes are a continual source of encouragement and support to our little ones who are in hospital for extended periods of time - some up to 9 months. Being able to do something "normal" in a sterile hospital environment that continually reminds them that they are sick, is proving more valuable than even we thought it would be. 

As the year moves on we’re starting to focus on an exciting new venture – a palliative care assessment centre. This will be a place where our long-term patients can come for regular pain and symptom assessment, alternative therapies like aromatherapy, and supportive counselling. Caregivers will also be given the opportunity for support groups, income generation, supportive counselling and some pampering. We envisage this becoming a centre of excellence where people interested in learning about palliative care can come. Watch this space! J

As I sign off I’d like to share the story of Baby Q. He was born with a severe cardiac problem in December 2016. Surgery was conducted in May 2017 but was unfortunately unsuccessful. Despite this though, Baby Q was not prepared to give up. Through Umduduzi’s involvement we have been able to control his pain (which was causing him huge distress), wean him off oxygen (which was preventing him from going home) and finally get him home. He has been at home with his family since 2^nd June. Although his long-term prognosis may not be good, he is currently a happy child at home receiving all the love and cuddles he deserves. For his mom, she actually gets to be a mom now. While in hospital she was unable to cuddle Baby Q because of all the monitors and drips that he was attached to. Now she gets to hold whenever she wants for as long as she wants.