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Missing – palliative care volunteers.

Today, back to where we started to give a big shout out to palliative care volunteering, which warms the hearts of the dying.

When Covid-19 struck the first thing to go was raucous family dinners, with grandchildren chasing each other through the kitchen, crashing into puppies and slipping on the spilt gravy.

The second thing lost was Friday mornings volunteering in the palliative care wing at a major Sydney teaching hospital. How much loved were those mornings. Some people were on for a long chat. Others would nod or put a hand out to acknowledge you before turning away to do the serious work of breathing into an oxygen mask.

Some always had a stream of visitors – how many family can you fit in one room? More than you would think. Others never had one visitor, ever. All made up the rich tapestry of the work of just being there for them, whether needed or not.

I still miss it.

And normally we have big celebratory get togethers during Palliative Care Week, May 24 – 30, this year. But not this time.

So instead, I’m going to share the vibe, the message, the love electronically. If you go to the following link you will see a spot where you can donate to the the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD)’s palliative care volunteer service fundraiser.

The volunteers have fundraised to purchase – among other things – ice machines, locked syringe driver boxes, soft furnishings for the garden, electric recliner chairs, folding beds and comfort packs for families who spend long days and nights with their loved ones at hospital.

https://www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Liverpool/events.html

For more on palliative care volunteering in the South Western Sydney Local Health District, go to:

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