Moving ceremony for young lives lost

“THERE can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” – Nelson Mandela.

These words were front and centre at this year’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day commemoration ceremony. The event was hosted by Durban children’s palliative care NGO Umduduzi – a local organization that works to ensure that terminally ill babies and children receive the best possible end-of-life care.

In an intimate sunset ceremony overlooking the city of Durban, candles were lit in memory of children who have lost their lives. Those in attendance were then invited to write the names of deceased loved ones onto small chalk boards and clip them onto a tree of remembrance.

Tracey Brand, Director and Social Worker of Umduduzi spoke of the three myths of children’s palliative care that this year’s event was aiming to address: that it is difficult to assess pain levels of babies and young children and unsafe to prescribe opioids such as Morphine for pain relief; that children can be treated as small adults; and that children don’t know they are dying.

Dr. Ambler, a palliative care doctor and recent finalist in the Lead SA hero of the year awards, then illustrated the importance of dispelling these myths by telling the story of one of their young patients. Under Umduduzi’s supervision, pain relieving drugs were prescribed to a 12 year old patient with severe Cerebral Palsy. The drugs had a transformative effect on the child’s well being and he is now living a more comfortable life in the care of his loving family.

Brand appealed for financial assistance to enable Umduduzi to help more children. For more information contact tracey@umduduzi.co.za