EMOTIONAL scenes played out at Stepping Stone Hospice in New Market Park on Friday morning, January 27, when the staff said goodbye to baby Tersia Perreira and mom Irineia, who are set to return to Irineia’s hometown, Lobito in Angola.
Little Tersia Perreira, lovingly named after Stepping Stone’s very own ‘mom’ and CEO, Tersia Burger, was born on January 14 at Netcare Clinton Hospital after her mother, Irineia, a hospice patient, went into premature labour at Stepping Stone’s In-Patient Unit.
The 27-year-old Irineia was admitted to Stepping Stone’s IPU shortly before Christmas following a referral from Dr Sylvia Rodrigues, a well-known Alberton oncologist and active member of the Stepping Stone care team.
“Irineia expressed a wish to return to her family, her husband and two other children in Angola. When news broke this week of her grandmother’s sudden passing, doctors gave both Irineia and her baby the green light to return home,” explains Burger.
Though Irineia is desperately ill from an aggressive form of cancer, her need to be with her own family has led to her decision to be taken home.
“We will stay in contact with the family and, if ever needs be, we will help Irineia return to us,” a tearful Burger said.
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