Total Gratitude

Post by Nigel Unwin, Hospice Wits CEO

Nigel Unwin

As a nation South Africa is still in a difficult transition...so is Hospice Wits. The visit by Stacy, Susan and Terri was energizing and uplifting for all of us. Even though we knew that they would come with so much to share and give, we were overwhelmed and humbled by their generosity from all perspectives. This included the six laptops, suitcases full of materials, Learn Center tool, team building with all parts of the organization, work with our management team and visits with our home care sisters. So much in two short weeks.

To feel that Suncoast Hospice, this time through Stacy, Susan and Terri, genuinely sees Hospice Wits as their partner is overwhelming. We feel we have so much to learn and take and not much to share, apart from our absolute commitment to excellent hospice care. Other hospices here in South Africa, which nominally are partnered with hospices in the U.S., are blown away by what our partnership means and what it achieves for Hospice Wits.

From our perspective the best thing about our partnership is that we know that you have so much more that you want to share with us. Amazingly, it doesn’t feel like a one-way street. Perhaps it's enough to give and to be received with total gratitude? Hopefully it is.

Mapelta Daycare Center

Mapetla is a daycare center run by Hospice Wits for children ages 2-5 who are infected or affected with HIV/AIDS. 55 children are at the crèche (school). Visiting Mapetla is always a highlight of our exchange trips. This trip was no different. Lucky, the principal, and her teachers do amazing work. The children are clean, happy, and learning. The two year olds were napping when we arrived. There's nothing more blissful than watching 13 two year olds sleeping peacefully on mats. I had to video them just to preserve the sounds of their breathing.

You should be able to click on some links to hear the oldest children sing to us (Sorry link is not working). Entertain us they did!  And, in order to be totally transparent, we entertained them too... Thanks to the financial  generosity of Paula Dilandro (Center for Loss and Healing Director) and some of her family members and Charla Fogel (Center for Learning volunteer and my mother!) I was able to purchase 10 chairs made from corrugated paper for the Mapetla classrooms. The chairs can open for storage also. The ultimate goal is to purchase chairs for every child.

So, here's the transparent piece... I asked my team if anyone was skilled in putting 'stuff' like this together as I know I'm not. One of the team members (not naming names... Susan) said she could easily do this. About 12 minutes later one chair was put together!!  I hope you're able to see the last little bit of this experience as well as some of the kids (and big kids) sitting in the chairs.