PBS News Hour features a short talk by Tracy Grant, Washington Post editor, about how caring for her terminally ill husband offered an understanding of quality of life and made her own life worth living. (See link at end of blog for video).
As a caregiver, palliative care worker and hospice volunteer, I agree with what Grant communicates. We all become our better selves while caring for others. The ill teach us so much. Their gifts to us last a lifetime. The experiences can be remarkable.
Tracy Grant, Deputy Managing Editor, Washington Post
Juntos Contra el Dolor – “we are helping diminish pain”
Juntos Contra el Dolor, A.C., the only 24-7 palliative care/hospice in Jalisco, Mexico, held a kermes to raise funds for its humanitarian medical effort which aides patients with chronic pain, and, at end of life. The Juntos team also provides psychological and spiritual support to families of patients.
The kermes was held on a Sunday from 8 a.m.to 2 p.m. outside the Templo of San Bernardo on Plan San Luis in northwestern Guadalajara, a church with 3,000 parishioners.
A Mexican kermes is an outdoor party for a special cause. To support the cause, people buy food and drink. The Juntos kermes served tacos with birria, quesadillas, homemade jamaica (a hibiscus drink) and horchata (a rice drink). Juntos brochures were on each table.
The nurses, who are the only paid staff (except for volunteer retired nurse Rocio), were taking care of patients at the hospital around the block..
The Spanish word kermes is derived from the Turkish word kermes which originally meant a handicraft bazaar to raise money for charity. It is also derived from the Dutch word kermesse, (kerk = church, mis = mass), a festival after mass.
setting tables for the kermesFounder Dra Susana Lua Nava with volunteer nurse Rocio
volunteer nurse Rocio and volunteer coordinator Nenavolunteer social workers Silvia and Lupita
sister volunteers – Marta and administrator Sara on the right
Cuenca High Life just posted an article I wrote about the precious hospice nuns of Cuenca, Ecuador. They offer the energy of love and light, plus comfort and serenity to those who are gravely ill and making their transitions.
I shall miss these remarkable ladies (eight total) but am looking forward to meeting up with others of their order in Guadalajara and suburban Los Angeles.
Precious Servants of Mary – Sister Marina, Sister Magdalena, Madre Teresa
Wellness Shepherd 