Newsletter May 2007

Children's Hospice

Dear friends:

We are glad to meet you again on the pages of our bulletin. The life of Children's Hospice is very interesting and full as before. We are glad that each month our Hospice wins more and more friends. Our possibilities to render assistance to families with ill children are increasing. Now we plan to broaden our care services to extremely ill children living in the Leningrad region.

In April 2007 a new Executive Director, Raissa K. Zakharevich, started her work. Father Alexander Tkachenko remains the General Director of the Hospice. From first days of her work Raissa disposed all colleagues towards her. The calmness and reasonableness of Raissa allow her to organize our work process and solve arising questions in a constructive manner without missing the main goal of our work.

Since the beginning of May the medical department is headed by Evgenie V. Chistjakov. He has a difficult task in organizing the work of Hospice teams in the Leningrad region. Undoubtedly, the organizing abilities and professional competence of Evgenie will allow him to do so in the best way.

In this issue of our bulletin we would like to thank M. Alexandra Belova, our remarkable volunteer. Alexandra (Sasha) teaches music to our little patients. She teaches children to play a block flute. It’s very important for the children suffering from diseases of bearing and moving organs to develop the diaphragm and the thorax muscles, therefore these music exercises benefit their health. Besides, the children like very much to talk with Sasha, to share their little joys and problems with her. Communication with an ill child is one of the most important aspects of volunteer’s help thanks to which the child does not feel lonely, learns something new and, often, volunteer and child become friends.

In May we visited two games of the Soccer Club "Zenith". It is well-known in Russia that this club is beloved by all residents of St. Petersburg. Many of our children are its passionate fans. Visiting a match becomes a great and joyful event in the life of a child. And we are glad that, thanks to our friends from "Zenith", we have the possibility to give them such a gift.

However, the soccer matches are to a greater degree something for the boys. On the 12^th and 13^th of May we had an opportunity to gladden our girls as well. They visited the ice show «Princesses on ice». At this performance the spectators could meet their favorite cartoon films’ heroines and take pleasure in beautiful music and dances.

On the 22^nd of May we were invited to a festival for handicapped children arranged by the Museum “Hermitage”. We were accompanied by our friends from the Charitable Fund “Umka”. At first there was an excursion to the most interesting and famous exhibits of the Hermitage. In the second part of the festival the children enjoyed a concert of soloists of the Mariinsky theatre. The Mariinsky theatre is not a very convenient place for wheel-chair users. However some children had a great desire to watch a ballet and to listen to music. That’s why such activities are very important.

We have many little princesses in the Hospice. For one of them, Niele K., we have arranged a really solemn princess’ carriage trip on the occasion of her birthday. What did the Fairy present to the Cinderella? A beautiful dress and a carriage. We are surely not real wizards, we only study to become them. Nevertheless, little miracles are already in our power. The carriage’s role was played by a snow-white limousine. Niele with her little sister accompanied by the Beautiful Prince came downstairs to the limousine and the car started off. In the limousine the Beautiful Prince entertained our princesses with songs. Our princesses like very much to bathe; therefore we chose an aquapark to be the place for a ball. The girls were awaited by their relatives and friends there. Skilled cooks prepared a magnificent cake which enraptured everyone.

This month the children continued to visit cinemas. It is very joyful that modern entertaining complexes are build now with consideration to the needs of physically disabled people moving with wheelchairs. The parents of disabled children don’t have to experience so many difficulties any more and there are places for children with wheelchairs in the halls.

However sad events have also happened in this month. Denis . and Wolodja L. died. We remember the both boys Denis and Wolodja as interesting personalities, kind and strong people. We will miss them. We pray for them. We try not to leave their relatives and close people alone in grief.

We have the summer before us. Many children will leave for holidays. We hope that they will summon up fresh energy during the summer; they will have a rest, strengthen their health, and become tanned. May the summer bring to all of us more joyful news and new pleasant acquaintances.

Detski Hospis / Children’s Hospice, June 2007