This annual event was organized by Charis Hospice to bring some Christmas cheer to the patients and the families of Charis Hospice. Charis Hospice was grateful to various companies that have sponsored the event in the past. This year, Christmas Tea was hosted by KDU College Penang Campus.There were about 140 people including patients, families, staff and volunteers. The highlight of the event was sharing from four of Charis Hospice patients about their cancer journey. We were also thankful to the young people from Penang First Assembly of God and Penang Christian Centre who presented the lively Christmas Story and Carol Singing. In addition, JDC Dancehouse performed two attention-grabbing dances.
Charis Hospice is a non-profit organization offering free palliative home care services to patients with cancer and other advanced illnesses in Penang Island, irrespective of race and religion. It also provides counseling and support group services to newly diagnosed cancer patients and survivors. Services are provided by trained medical and non-medical staff and volunteers.
KDU College Penang has been supporting Charis Hospice first through the Christian Fellowship and now as Community Outreach for the School of Nursing and Allied Health. Our Nursing students have been attached to Charis Hospice to provide home-based nursing care, health education and support to care givers and family members.Ms. Chan Nee Nee, the Director of Studies, KDU College Penang mentioned in her speech, “The School of Nursing aims to develop caring nurses who are able not only to apply their technical knowledge and skills but also to demonstrate compassion and concern to their patients. We want to instill in our students the spirit of volunteerism so that they can contribute to society as well.”
Last week, the School of Nursing and Allied Health celebrated their Annual Dinner and Farewell to their First Batch of Graduate Nurses. All the graduates have already had job offers: some were on scholarships and others not on scholarships have been offered several job offers and are considering their choices. Our Nursing students will not only be technically competent, they will be distinguished by their compassion and concern to their patients and community.In addition, next year 2010, Oral Presentation and Group Work will be introduced into every subject. The aims are to make our Nursing students more articulate, to express their views and concerns and to be able to communicate well to different members of the community.
Palliative care emphasizes quality of life – “We cannot add days to life but we may be able to add life to days”. The following are some comments of Charis Hospices’ patients (have since passed away) and family members:-
1: “I have been given 6 months to live but I have surpassed that. I want to thank God for sending people to help me cope during this time. I also want to thank Charis Hospice for all their help and prayers”.
2: “With the help of Charis Hospice professional medical team I need not go to hospital for treatment. I am more relaxed now. I have surrendered everything to God and put my trust in Him. I am really appreciative of my wife now because she has taken over many responsibilities from me”.
3: “We thank Charis Hospice for taking such good care of my father from the time he was discharged from the hospital until his death. We were advised on how to take care of his personal needs and medication to relieve his pain. This helped us tremendously. We did not have to carry the heavy burden alone”.
4: “Father’s last moments were peaceful, happy and free from suffering. You helped him understand and accept his situation, alleviated his discomfort and touched his heart and the hearts of all his living relatives”.
5: “Though we knew you for a brief time only, the service, care and dedication shown by the staff of Charis Hospice gives us hope in humanity … to serve with honor and privilege”.
