Roxanne Lind

Parting is such sweet sorrow . . . November 25, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 07 11:51:44 +0100

So now, at the end of my time at The Dream Centre, it's time to reflect on all that it has been. It is a process that may take a lifetime.
Would I do it all again? . . . in a moment! For those considering volunteering, I'd highly encourage you to make the decision and do it. It's an education and experience of a lifetime.
Arriving was difficult, but departing much more so. Many goodbyes were extremely emotional, and my habit of waving goodbye and saying "See you" needed to be quickly curbed when the first patient replied "When?"
Some hugs were the "I know I'll see you again", and some were a transfer of strength from one human being to another. My most memorable goodbye was Bonga. When seeing me in the lobby on Saturday morning, with my backpack on and heading out the door, he tapped my hand and said . . . "See you Monday?"

Bonga (age 15) - November 24, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 07 11:36:09 +0100

The youngest patient in the Dream Centre proved to be the most challenging for me to connect with. For over 3 weeks, I have frequently stopped by his room to say hello, or to pick him up for Bingo or movie night. Many days I would spend a few moments with him at the 6th Floor entrance chair he frequently occupied. From this vantage point he could monitor everyone arriving and departing on the elevator, but generally spent most of his time sharing blankly out the window at the fast moving world below. Near the end of the first week I pointed to the small Canadian flag I had pinned on my shirt that day and asked Bonga if he knew what country it belonged to. His blank look at me seemed empty of life. The following day I asked him again, while removing the pin and handing it to him. Again, he didn’t answer but I told him it was Canada. I indicated he should pin it on his pyjamas, which he slowly did. The following day I pointed at the pin, which he had now transferred to his clean pyjamas, and asked what country, and Bonga spoke his first word to me – he mumbled ‘India’. So happy that he had spoken to me, I replied, ‘Almost Bonga, it’s Canada’. From that day on, I got a clear reply of ‘Canada’ whenever we greeted in the hall!

Beautiful Pinky - Part II - November 22, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 07 11:22:06 +0100

Yesterday was Pinky's last day of pain. After a difficult day, she took her last breaths and surrendered her battle to be in this world. In the morning, we moved her to a private room, a common practice here at the Dream Centre to allow patients privacy in their last moments of life. Her family was contacted and spent a few peaceful hours at her bedside. I spent the rest of the day with Pinky, partly in my morphine monitor role, but also to hopefully make sure she wouldn't be alone at the end. At 5:30 in the afternoon, less than an hour after Lies (another very dedicated volunteer of Pinky's care) arrived back at the Dream Centre, Pinky sighed and moved away from her worldly pain. The immense courage she had displayed day after day will be in my memory forever. Pinky will not be fogotten.

Language barriers . . . part II - November 20, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 07 11:16:35 +0100

Within the volunteer group, our communication has definitely improved over the four weeks, and I learned so much in the process. We really did share some good times and much needed laughter. I appreciate the "all English" efforts at dinner, and at times when important information needed to be shared -- thank you ladies! Special thanks for the comfort (i.e. chocolate) you supplied for my departure trip, and the wonderful 'send off' celebration!

Rounds with the Doctor . . . November 14, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 07 11:10:45 +0100

Volunteers are welcomed and encouraged to join the doctor on Wednesday morning rounds, so this morning I took the opportunity to first attending the brief staff meeting which was following by rounds. Dr. Maistry is a wonderful blend of professional and compassionate. Her brief background description of each patient, and update on their treatment and progress, was something I found very interesting and helpful. We only covered one floor, but it was such a great experience. Later in the day, she invited myself and another volunteer to visit the Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, a public/private referral hospital. The largest and most modern hospital in South Africa, it is fully electronic, working on paperless principles, and utilises the world’s leading edge medical equipment.

Road trip with Sinele . . . . November 12, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 07 11:09:12 +0100

This morning I accompanied 7 patients and 4 staff members on an appointment trip to an Anti RetroViral (ARV) clinic at a nearby hospital. I very much wanted to go along, however I was concerned I might just be in the way. The 'system' at this Clinic was organized chaos at best. Waiting is a simple fact of life. Over 100 patients were booked for an appointment, all at 7:00 am !! They allow only 8 into the room at one time, in order to minimize the spread of TB. The patients are then instructed to find their own patient file and weigh themselves on the scale before reporting to the nurse for their appointment.
In the end, I did prove to be somewhat useful by communicating with the Clinic staff in English and helping to resolving some paperwork issues.
Since the Dream Centre patients are deemed the sickest patients, they are considered "priority" patients in that they skip the general waiting line when they arrive. Apparently the line starts forming as early as 4:00 in the morning with people who have come from the surrounding areas to get HIV/AIDS testing and treatment. The young patient I escorted (early 20's, now both deaf and blind) sat patiently for almost 5 hours, only to have two nurses fail at several attempts to draw the required blood from her arms. Without that blood test, she cannot begin the ARV process which could inevitably save her life.
Returning to the Dream Centre at 4:30, this beautiful young woman smiled and squealed with delight when I placed her hands on her own bed . . . we were home at last.

Language barriers . . . November 8, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 07 11:07:41 +0100

In a situation where emotions run high, it can be disheartening when the harshness of a foreign tongue is what you hear.
It's strange . . . although I certainly expected a language barrier in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, I never dreamed that language would be Dutch!
The other seven volunteers here are from Holland, and while I commend them for their efforts, I had no idea that speaking English would be such challenge. Other than one volunteer who speaks only English when I am present, English has proven too difficult for the others to express themselves and they prefer to use Dutch. For me it is difficult as well, and at times extremely isolating.
The Be More staff assures me that they are working on possible resolutions for this. It is my hope, since Be More is represented as an International Organization, that English will be more equitably represented in future groups.

Beauty Day at the Dream Centre . . . November 6, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 07 11:05:34 +0100

As I prepare her nails for a fresh coat of colour, she slowly leans forward and whispers to me, "Today is my birthday." As we sing Happy Birthday, first in English, then in Zulu; my heart silently weeps for this beautiful woman who's future seems so unsure. The moment was 'Precious'.

Beautiful Pinky . . . . November 5, 2007

Wed, 05 Dec 07 17:05:44 +0100

Having suffered a severe stroke, menengitis, being HIV positive and in stage 4 AIDS, and currently battling TB, this young woman continuously tugs at my heart. Unable to speak or move, her eyes tell so many stories and her "Yah" answer to every question is her main form of communication. Having her dressing on an extremely large bedsore wound changed is a daily occurrence that I assist with each morning. The size and severity of this wound is shocking, particularly for me not having a medical background. Lies and I attempt to schedule her bath and wound dressing to begin shortly after her morning morphine. Her extreme pain is difficult to observe, and I personally have become the "morphine monitor", to help try to ensure that her pain is truly managed during her palliative care. In this third world country, where beliefs and knowledge are very different from where I come from, that is not such an easy task. Her strength to face each day amazes me.

Friday is all about Bingo !! . . . November 2, 2007

Wed, 05 Dec 07 17:05:44 +0100

At 1:00 pm we started gathering up patients from the wards to bring them down for Bingo. It so important to get the patients out of their room for part of the day, and Bingo is definitely a hit here at the Dream Centre. Amid all the confusion, it proved to be a big success. We had done some shopping for small prizes that they could choose from if they got a Bingo, and there were lots of winners! I asked Christina (a patient) if she wanted to come down to play, and she told me she couldn't because she was blind and wouldn't be able to see the numbers. I assured her I would watch her card for her, and help her mark the numbers . . . and maybe she would win !?!? She is just learning how to walk again, and walks with such confidence when offered a combination of verbal/directional and physical guidance. And guess what . . . Christina won the second game!

Week 1 at the Dream Centre . . . November 1, 2007

Wed, 05 Dec 07 17:00:22 +0100

I arrived at the Dream Centre both anxious and excited.   I had been traveling in South Africa for almost a week and was looking forward to getting settled into the program. I was one of the first of the new group to arrive, and was given a warm welcome from current volunteers that were staying on. Hermein and Lies helped me to get settled and gave me just enough information to dispell anxieties and questions.
I'll use this first message as an opportunity to give some very general information about about the first week as well as where the volunteers stay, as those were some of the things I scoured the website for when considering The Dream Centre and Be More as a volunteer organization. The accommodations for the volunteers are very well set up, and I feel fortunate to have a comfortable, convenient, and private room. There are eight private rooms that occupy one half of the first floor, which was formerly used as a ward. Keys are provided for your room as well as the "Ward Gate" which gives us an extra security from the rest of the building.   There is a well appointed kitchen, with all the modern ammenities, including a dishwasher!! The communal lounge is furnished with a large sofa, TV and DVD player, and a computer connected to the Internet. Volunteers are provided with a South African cell phone SIM card, which when inserted in your own unlocked phone, gives you a South African phone number. Then you just purchase pay-as-you-go time, and the bonus is that incoming calls are free!
One thing that non-European volunteers may want to bring is a power converter, if you have any electrical appliances or chargers. The plug adapters are available here, very cheap at the mall across the street, however finding the actual power converter might prove more difficult. I brought mine from Canada.
The rest of the group arrived later that evening and we were advised that the next day we would be free to get settled in.   Orientation was held later in the week, via very informative sessions with various Dream Centre staff including the Doctor, Social worker, Physiotherapist, and Matron Nurse.  Sessions were welcoming and extremely informative, covering topics such as the various areas we may be interested in working in, HIV AIDS information, as well as an overview on the background and organizational structure of The Dream Centre.

Only 2 weeks . . .

Tue, 16 Oct 07 22:15:24 +0200

It's difficult to believe that it is only two weeks until I arrive at the Dream Centre, in Pinetown, South Africa.

My decision to volunteer with Be More, and specifically The Dream Centre, was made several months ago . . . during the plannning stages of my September 2007 year-long journey.
Thanks to Pauline at Be More for all her guidance and assistance throughout the process of volunteering and getting to the Dream Centre. Also, thanks to my Be Buddy, Marjan, for her informative e-mails and answers to ALL my questions :-) ! Hopefully I can some day provide that same assistance to another future volunteer.
August was an extremely busy month for me, preparing to leave work and home for a year, and handling final travel preparations. It began with a Dream Centre fundraising Garage Sale. On what proved to be the hottest day of the year, it provided a means to recycle some treasures, spread the word about The Dream Centre through my posters and handouts, and of course raise money in the process. I was touched by "the kindness of strangers", some of whom found nothing they needed to buy, but graciously made contributions anyway! Co-workers also helped my fundraising through the donation of raffle items and purchase of raffle tickets. Also, special thanks to my coffee pals who jumped in with their many forms of support!

On September 2, 2007 I began my year of travel . . . a year to more fully explore and experience the world. My first month was spent as a Karma Yogi at Hollyhock Centre in British Columbia, Canada. Generosity was also present at Hollyhock, via other Karma Yogis and friends (new and old) who expressed their interest and offered their support! Once settled at the Dream Centre, I will definitely be contacting those who encouraged me to be in touch.

Well, that's my journey so far, the journey that is leading me to The Dream Centre. I look forward to arriving, contributing, learning, and experiencing all that it has offer. I will endeavor to arrive without expectations, but instead with gratitude for the opportunity . . . to contribute . . . to be more . . .