Our journey to Butterfly Palliative Home
In this blog, Tarryn Bell, co-founder of Butterfly Palliative Home in Ingwavuma, recounts her and husband Christoff's inspirational journey to the establishment of Butterfly Palliative Home, the only in-patient children's hospice in KZN. My husband Christoff and I moved from Cape Town thirteen years ago to a small hospital close to Sodwana Bay called Mseleni Hospital to pursue careers [...]
Cancer is a disease, not a military campaign
Cancer is a disease, not a military campaign: Changing the narrative Research has shown that the ubiquitous use of war metaphors when referring to cancer is not helpful and could cause harm by instilling fear in people who delay reporting symptoms. In this blog Bonni Suckling (Jed's mom) explains how the words we choose to talk to children and [...]
In palliative care we have the unique privilege to plan for death
Research has shown that when a child dies, the place of their death may have lasting consequences for the parents during the bereavement process. In this blog, Bonni Suckling, mother to Jed and founding member of Rainbows and Smiles, describes why home was the best place for her 6-year-old son to die. I feared Jed dying his entire life [...]
Before and After learning about Paediatric Palliative Care
In this powerful and deeply personal written narrative, Samantha Jiri, a medical doctor, gives excerpts from her journalling through her palliative care journey. She shares stories of two patients and their mothers- before and after learning about and applying palliative care principles. Samantha went on to graduate Cum Laude in the Post Graduate Paediatric Palliative Care Diploma (UCT). A [...]