On Saturday 14 September 2024, the sun cast a gentle light through the French doors of Alettha’s private hospice room. Bright balloons bounced cheerfully in the corners, and flower leis adorned the walls. Beautiful pots of blooming lavender amid flowering plant gifts added colour and a sweet fragrance. Through the glass panes of the doors, the beauty of the garden beckoned to her whilst the little water fountain burbled and splashed with delight in the background.
The Helderberg Hospice staff began to assemble in the room, bringing with them an air of celebration, and a birthday cake lit with a sparkler. Their smiles radiated warmth and affection as they sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Alettha, placing a pretty crown on her head and a bright pink birthday sash around her chest.
Alettha’s son arrived to visit, carrying platters full of scrumptious treats for all to share. Stories and laughter filled the air, and Alettha’s heart overflowed with happiness. Being a people’s person, the companionship and care they provided was just as essential to her as her medical care.
An appreciative and grateful Alettha could not stop thanking everyone for planning this surprise birthday celebration for her – in the end, nothing compares to the warmth of human connection. Having spent 5 weeks in hospice care, she felt surrounded by staff who had become like family to her in this special sanctuary.
Alettha realises that while her body is fragile, the connections she makes, the laughter she shares, and the love she gives and receives, create unbreakable bonds. She recommends Hospice care to anyone who may need it, and says she has everything she needs right where she is in her Hospice room. She is content and pain free, able to rest and feel at ease.
Celebrating Alettha’s birthday and making her feel celebrated on her special day embodies the holistic palliative care that Helderberg Hospice commits to our patients. Alettha is not defined by her diagnosis, and not by her symptoms. She is a whole person who celebrated a birthday in the best way possible for her – with her precious son, and the nurses and social worker from Helderberg Hospice who she now counts as part of her family.
