Joseph’s account appeared in newsletter no. 35 (2016). The newsletter identifies his name as a pseudonym. After a stroke, he could no longer walk or work. He had been staying at Blessed Gérard’s Hospice since March 2014 because his family could not provide the care he needed at home.
Joseph had previously worked at a community development centre in Johannesburg that sought employment opportunities for disadvantaged people. He continued to think of his three children. At the hospice, he found kind nurses and volunteers and said he felt as though he was part of a family. Prayer and singing in church gave him comfort.
Joseph encouraged others living with serious illness to do what they could and accept help when they needed it. His words show the importance of human closeness alongside nursing care.
Source: Newsletter no. 35, page 8. The date above refers to the newsletter issue, not the exact day of the conversation.