Newsletter September, 2008

Dear friends:

We are glad to welcome you again to the pages of our bulletin and to tell you about events which happened in Children's Hospice in September.

OUR LOSSES
Unfortunately we will remember this September as a month of great losses among our patients.
This month Vania T., Liza K., Rodion Z., Nikita R., and Liuba B. passed away. They struggled against their diseases very long and courageously. We express our sorrow to their relatives and other close people. Their grief and pain are inconsolable because they lost the dearest of all in their life. We try to be close by and to support the parents during these hard times.

In addition we tell you about other news.

MATERIAL ASSISTANCE
One more batch of wheelchairs was delivered to families of children with severe organic pathologies of the central nervous system. Several other children were supplied with nursing care beds to facilitate care of them.


DAY OF KNOWLEDGE
On September, 1st, Elena Churbakova and other Hospice volunteers arranged a wonderful celebration in the children's department at Scientific Research Institute of Oncology. The 1st of September is the Day of Knowledge in Russia (the first day of school). However, regardless of the tradition we decided not to choose school for the subject of the celebration. Together with children we created a jungle, which came into being directly on the walls of the corridor. Everything was presented there! There were elephants, giraffes, parrots, snakes, many different palm trees and even five suns because each child wanted to draw his own sun. After we had washed the children bedaubed with paint, Elena arranged a quiz. Drawing on walls is a very fascinating occupation. Going for treatment on several subsequent days children passed by palm trees, wild animals and bright flowers. We hope that these drawings amused the children and cheered them up.

FESTIVAL
On September, 25th, the first city festival «With kind heart into the future! » arranged by National Fund of Youth Programs “Dar” ("Gift") took place in St. Petersburg. In the program of the festival there was a drawing competition. Several children from Children’s Hospice won first prizes--though nobody left without a gift. At first the children had to pass some trials having shown keenness of wit, quickness of understanding and ability to work in a team. Skills of singing, dancing and other creative abilities were also of great use. The motto of the festival was a phrase from fairy tale «Little prince» by Antoine de Saint-Exupery: «Happiness is when you are being understood». For our patients this sentence has a special meaning. Very often they differ much from their contemporaries by their appearance, way of life and behavior. We would desire so much that people show towards such children less curiosity and fear and more wish to learn, to understand and to help them!

ENTERTAINMENTS
Twice this month children attended amusement parks and tested their strength on different rides and other entertainment attractions. They had their fill of running and laughing.

For the last time in this year, children had a motor-ship trip on rivers and channels of St.-Petersburg. Now we’ll wait for spring to continue these interesting excursions.

In the Ethnographic Museum “Kunstkammer” we visited an exhibition «Travel to China». Children could take part in quizzes and competitions and in such playing form they got acquainted with the history of one of the most ancient civilizations.

In addition to museums, our patients like to go to concerts. This month the fans of the pop-band “Ranetki” were in luck. Our girls had wished for a long time to get to a concert of this youth band, which is pretty popular in Russia now. They were in raptures over the show. We thank the management of the Ice Palace for donating tickets.

PARENTS
We arranged a small celebration for parents of Olga T. who had their 25th (Silver) Wedding Anniversary in September. When a child is severely ill, it is difficult to allow oneself to celebrate something, but the occasion was important. Therefore we arranged a festive dinner in a cozy restaurant with good music. We had seen how selflessly these parents cared for their ill children, how many things they sacrificed for this care and how much it tired them. Such families are an example of courage, fortitude and optimism for us.

We prepared and published some brochures for parents. From these booklets a family can learn what to do, if the child is diagnosed with a life-limiting disease and how to tell to younger siblings about death of their brother or sister. Another brochure directed towards psychological help to a family after a child’s death is being prepared now. These materials come into being thanks to our patients and their relatives. Every day we search together for answers to complicated questions. We struggle against despair and learn to be strong.

OUR TEAM
In this issue of our newsletter we’d like to introduce to you one of the most distinguished members of our team. Her name is Darina Narbutova. Darina is a remarkable person. She is able to combine incompatible things in her personality!
Darina holds a very important and responsible post: job of a chief accountant is not for joking. The professional qualities and skills of Darina are above any praises and compliments. Every need of a child in the care of Children’s Hospice is covered with a source of financing; not one donated cent can pass past a family in need; suppliers do not dream any more to receive ill-gotten gains out of deliveries to Children's Hospice. The financial side of our work is like a state border of the motherland – well and truly secured.

But there is also another side of Darina’s work. As a chief accountant she spends a lot of time in our small office. The first impression is always very important and every Hospice visitor is met with a gentle, radiant smile and treated politely and tactfully. That is Darina. She is the face of our organization and the image of our house. And what an image! She is always affable, calm, and ready to help and to find a solution for any situation. Her fine sense of humor and innate wisdom make Darina not only the image, but also the soul, of our united team.

We have shared our small successes and achievements with you and told about things which our employees face every day. We hope what you have read touches your heart and soul. Please share this feeling with your friends and send this newsletter to some of them. If any questions arise, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Yours faithfully,

Fr. Alexander Tkachenko, Children’s Hospice, September 2008

Detski Hospis/Children’s Hospice