{"id":69,"date":"2019-12-21T21:21:03","date_gmt":"2019-12-21T21:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.ugandacancer.org.uk\/?p=69"},"modified":"2020-02-08T21:22:35","modified_gmt":"2020-02-08T21:22:35","slug":"juliets-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/?p=69","title":{"rendered":"Juliet’s story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As told by Vicky (a volunteer with the Palliative Care Education and Research Centre)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juliet (not real name) is a 52yr old, diagnosed with Cancer of the \ncervix, sick for the last 7 years and admitted to the Uganda Cancer \nInstitute.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She is under the care of the Palliative Care team working alongside \nher primary doctors, with the volunteers supporting her through her pain\n and symptom control. The volunteers were able to visit her and \nestablish a good rapport with the main caregiver, Juliet\u2019s sister. \nJuliet had advanced disease and her kidneys were failing and thus \ngetting weaker every day. The doctors requested a procedure that would \nhelp to revise her kidney problem, but it was too expensive and the \nfamily could not afford it due to financial constraints. This was very \ndistressing to the daughter and sister, watching their loved one in \nagony and in a confused state. It seemed really a hopeless situation for\n them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the volunteers were able to liaise with the Social Worker of\n the Uganda Cancer Institute to raise some funds for the procedure and \nthis was able to bring hope and a smile to the caregivers who would \nalways cry because of not being able to meet the financial obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the regular visits by the volunteers, the caregivers were able to share their worries and fears, which included not being able to transport their loved one\u2019s body if she died in the hospital. This was a very painful feeling but as volunteers we informed the clinical team who then facilitated the patient discharge and also referred them to a community Palliative Care centre for continuity of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Volunteers
Volunteers bringing hope through offering psychosocial and spiritual support to a patient and carer on the ward.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The family appreciated the time, help, care and love they were shown at their darkest moment and they had this to say \u201cThank\n you for loving us and visiting us. You did not know us and we did not \nknow you but this has created a relationship between us which I would \nnot want to end! You should extend the love to the rest of the other \npatients too\u201d.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She died a few days after she was discharged back home but the family was very grateful and have remained in touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So being a volunteer in palliative care is both a positive and \nmeaningful experience and it is a privilege being able to help those in \nneed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a volunteer, it is important to be present for the vulnerable \npersons and to follow them in their various physical and spiritual \ndistresses. However, it is crucial to possess knowledge, skills and life\n experience, as well as a clear role, with regular support from my \nmentor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as what I am \ndoing is help to the patients and families, I am happy with what I do. \nIt does not matter what it is, as long as I am of assistance, I am happy<\/em><\/strong><\/p>Vicky Kirabo (Palliative Care Education and Research Centre volunteer) <\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As told by Vicky (a volunteer with the Palliative Care Education and Research Centre) Juliet (not real name) is a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=69"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70,"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69\/revisions\/70"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=69"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=69"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ugandacancer.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=69"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}