In the Christmas 2000 newsletter, volunteer Silla Helas reflects on her time at Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre. She particularly remembers a seriously ill woman with whom she often sat for a long time, even when the patient could hardly speak.
One morning, Silla addressed the woman by name. She smiled. For Silla, that small moment answered her question about whether her presence made a difference. It showed how much it can mean to stay with someone and speak to them as a person.
We do not publish the patient’s name or image here. The photograph shows volunteer Silla Helas in 2000.
Source: Newsletter no. 20, Christmas 2000/New Year 2001, pp. 19–20.