I was so excited to have
the opportunity to travel in the field visiting patients and families with
social worker Penny. Being a social worker by training, I had the
opportunity to visit with Penny when she traveled to the US in November as a
part of our exchange program - Hospice Wits and Suncoast Hospice. Today,
we traveled the roads in Soweto, some paved and some not, to visit a few of
Penny's patients.
The first was a woman living with AIDS, who resided with her daughter
and granddaughter in a 8 x 10 hut made of cardboard, blankets and tin.
Penny assessed the patient's need for a food parcel and the possibility of
moving to another location providing better shelter, while the community care
worker (hospice aide) gently massaged her hands and arms to counteract the
effects of her neuropathy.
They all spoke in their native language,
Zulu. The universal language of hospice was understood by all of us, even
though we never said a word, other than greetings and goodbyes. The
patient was so appreciative of everything Hospice Wits has done and could do
for her... and thanked, us...the American visitors, for taking the time to
visit with her. Can you imagine...she thanked, us....just for being
there. Another lesson in the power of presence.
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