Hospice provides dignity through care

AS Hospice Week was commemorated from May 5-11, Berea Mail visited The Highway Hospice in Sherwood to find out more about palliative care. 

SYDENHAM resident, Theophellus Mthembu (45) was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February. After a lengthy hospital stay, the father of five is happy to be at home with his children. The Highway Hospice have assisted Mthembu by setting up a hospital bed in his home and providing medical supplies needed for home care and pain management.

“I think we’d be stuck without Hospice, as we are not working, we couldn’t afford all the items we need,” said Mthembu.

He and his wife, Philile, said they shared the misconception that The Highway Hospice was a waiting room for dying patients. Now, after experiencing the care that the organisation provides, Mthembu has a new lease on life.

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“When my daughter told me my husband would leave hospital and be at home with hospice care, I was so worried because I thought people go to die in hospice. The first time hospice nurse, Sr Lorraine Pillai, came to see us, she worried so much about us and we saw that they really care,” said Philile.

She added that The Highway Hospice went beyond the basics, to offer holistic care and explain how to care for Mthembu at home.

“They even help to improve his nutrition, bringing us milk and soup – hospice helps us with all these things,” she said

Mthembu said he suffered with bed sores – now his wife knows how to treat the sores and bathe him at home, a task she could not complete without a hospital bed.

“I am happy to be at home. In hospital it was more stressful – I worried about my children. Now I am at home, I can talk with them and give them support,” he said.

Sr Lorraine Pillai, a nurse from The Highway Hospice, explained that they offer palliative care.

“This refers to pain control and symptom management as well as phycho-social support to a patient, facing the advanced stages of an incurable disease. Throughout it all, Mr Mthembu has been so positive and he still believes firmly that God will cure him. We will never give a patient false hope, but we won’t take away their faith or beliefs either,” she said.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Since his diagnosis, Mthembu suffered with paralysis in his legs
“There was not much pain. I was sleeping when I woke up at midnight to use the bathroom. That’s when I felt my legs were not moving – my legs were numb,” he said.

While Mthembu was diagnosed in February, symptoms started to surface in August, last year.
“I went to the doctor because I was losing weight and feeling weak. When I got there, the doctor said I has a shortage of blood and needed a blood transfusion,” he said.

Despite his health struggles, Mthembu said his relationship with his wife is stronger than ever.
“She’s so good to me, so helpful,” he said.

A bread winner no more

With seven dependents, the couple has a full house. Of their five children, four are still living under their roof, along with Philile’s niece and nephew. Social worker, Nokubonga Ndlovu, set up a challenge for the youngsters – whoever follows all the rules of the house will win a prize.

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“When I did one on one counselling with the children, I realised there’s a lot they are going through. Their father used to be a breadwinner – now there is no source of income. Children grieve differently, so I came up with a game to help them cope. It started this month and runs until June. Whoever keeps to the rules will be rewarded with a chocolate – I wanted to inspire them to be more responsible, to do tasks like packing away their things, doing their homework, and polishing their school shoes,” said Ndlovu.

“Because we have young children, they feel pain when they see their father like this. Thanks to the game Nokubonga started, they are distracted and they don’t worry so much,” added Philile.

Ndlovu has also applied for disability grants on the family’s behalf and supplied the couple’s eldest daughter, Snethemba (21) with pre-loved clothes to sell.

“We empowered her and gave her a way to start her own business,” said Ndlovu.