After what has felt like an eternity, Edenvale Care Centre Hospice recently received money from the Department of Health for the first time in eight months.
“I really don’t know how, but I and my staff somehow managed to keep our gates open,” said sister Leigh.
“Without the donations from the community, it would’ve been impossible to keep the doors open.”
Leigh said the hospice was paid on January 15.
She explained while going through the financially difficult period she had to pay her staff less and only as the community made donations.
She herself did not take a salary for three months.
Also read: Donations start to trickle in for Edenvale care centre
“I never had a sour or sad face among my staff. They were amazing and understanding of the situation.
“For me the patients we care for come first, so any donations were used to care for them. Once that was taken care off, I would pay my staff.”
Leigh said without the support of the Classic Motorcycle Club, Mamba Security, Edenvale Rotary Club, Dowerglen Kwik Spar, churches and community members, last year would have been extremely difficult.
“I just want to thank the community from the bottom of my heart,” said Leigh.
As one of the few operational hospices, the Edenvale Care Centre Hospice caters for patients with end-stage renal and cardiac failure, hypertension, strokes, diabetes one and two, cancer, HIV/Aids, TB and multi-drug resistant TB.
Leigh said patients are charged a once-off fee of R300 admission and are then cared for.
She said if the patients have a South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) card they are charged a once-off fee of R500.
Also read: Situation dire for care centre
Once in the care of Leigh, the patients stay with her and her nurses for 21 days.
Once they become stronger and are on the mend, Leigh tries to find them alternative accommodation. This is, however, becoming increasingly difficult.
“Many of the organisation in the area have increased their prices and the patients cannot afford to stay there,” said Leigh.
She said although the department has made a payment, the hospice hopes to continue fund-raising with the assistance of Marlene Hooper of the Classic MC.
The fund-raiser will be held on May 18 and will see a musical performance by the Welsh Choir coached by John Benfield.
It will be held in the afternoon, tickets will cost R150 per person and R100 per pensioner.
More information will be released closer to the date.
