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May
2012
Contents:
CEO’s Message
Dealing with
Bereavement
Hospice Cuppa
Events Diary &
Updates
Opening Doors
Cloud Workshop
Hidden Treasure
“More like Angels”
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F
or the l ast 3 years K atie M c Gregor has worked as a palliative care nurse at Mercy Hospice
Auckl and and i s cu rrently working in the comm u nit y palliative c are te am . These healthcare
professionals visit people with a life-limiting illness in their own homes to provide specialist care. “I love this work. People think
of palliative care as being an imminent thing,
but actually it’s not. The people I visit
Sir Peter and Lady Sylvia Siddell
have a lot of living to do yet.”
Community nurses are a part of the
free palliative care service Mercy Hospice
Auckland provides thanks to the generosity
of the community. They have specialist
training to be able to meet their patients’
needs at every level and can often be the
difference between people staying in their
own home or having to move to a facility
to manage their illness.
“Katie’s lovely, she’s a joy,” says Eunice
Heast, one of Katie’s patients whom she
sees in her Blockhouse Bay home. Eunice
says with a smile that she was supposed
to go “poof ” the Christmas before last.
“I went into a coma for 10 and a half hours
and the doctors said that was it for me, but
I’m still here!” She’s been using the service of
community hospice nurses since, and loves
the independence it gives her. “I really enjoy
my own company and appreciate the help of
Hospice, along with my daughter, which
enables me to live in the comfort of my home”
Katie’s patients are all ages with unique
needs and situations. “I’m taking care of
a gentleman at the moment who is very
unwell and his family want to be active in his
care. To be in amongst them at home is very
Eunice Heast & Katie McGregor
special for him. They’re able to take care of
him too whilst knowing that we’ll see to any
specialist medical needs he has and that
we’ll re-assess the situation at any time.”
Karin Pepping knows the value of that
kind of support. Her husband Keith died
three years ago of kidney cancer aged just
42, and she’s been throwing a few fundraisers for Mercy Hospice Auckland to say
thank you. “Community nurses don’t just
take care of the patient, they take care of
the caregivers too. They were always checking
in with me to see how I was doing. When I
needed a break, they could just see it and
things would be organised so that Keith was
looked after and I had a rest. We have four
children and the difference it made to our
family was so important.”
continued page 2
continued from front
Katie adds, “It’s one of the wonderful
parts of my job, seeing the pleasure and
sense of self my patients get from being in
their own homes. I don’t see the work we
do as being about death and dying at all.
It’s about improving the quality of people’s
lives so they can live to the full. I love it for
instance when I call my patients up for an
appointment and they say, “Can’t see you
today Katie, I’m going out! ”
Please help us to care for more
patients in their homes.
Thank you so much for your generous
support from our last newsletter Your donations now cover 75% of the
cost of medications which accompany
pain pumps.
ceo’s message
Jan and members of the Executive Team. Back: Tim Hurley, Hadley Brown, Dr Bruce Foggo.
Middle: Julie Reid, Teina Stewart, Cheryl Kenwright. Front: Lynda Smith, Jan Nichols, Julia Thomson
My years at Mercy have
been the absolute highlight of
my career.
During May, Mercy Hospice Auckland
joins together with other hospices
throughout New Zealand to recognise
Hospice Awareness Week. This year
several Auckland hospices have chosen
to celebrate the work of their community
nurses at this time.
I came to work at St Joseph’s Hospice,
as Mercy Hospice was then known, 19
years ago. At that time St Joseph’s was a
highly respected Inpatient Hospice
providing care for people from Central,
West Auckland and the North Shore.
As Nurse Unit Manager I was fortunate
enough to be involved in the development
of a Specialist Hospice Community Nursing
Team for the Auckland District Health
Board region.
Today that Community Nursing Team
is integral to all that happens here. The
Team’s office is not far from my own, so
I can hear the buzz each morning as
phone calls are made, files prepared, and
discussions held with other members
of our team who are involved in care.
Suddenly there is a mass exodus as the
2
nurses go out to make their visits. Hours
of relative silence follow until much later
in the day when all the nurses return and
begin a new round of organisation
and discussion.
As of today there are 275 people
receiving our care in the community.
Easter has just passed and all the
different professional members of our
team have been very busy. The need for
care doesn’t stop at weekends and public
holidays. Our goal is to keep people at
home for as long as is possible and if
they wish, we try to help people to die
at home. This is what the majority of
people want.
Over 19 years, Mercy Hospice has
grown and flourished. I have been
fortunate enough to have had a number
of roles and have learned invaluable
lessons about the centrality of mission,
of people and the need for focus on
their needs and hopes for the future,
whatever that may hold. But now the
time has come for me to make a change
and I have accepted the role of Chief
Executive at Hospice North Shore,
commencing late June 2012.
Mercy Hospice Auckland is an
outstanding organisation operated and
supported by amazing people. Through
the Sisters of Mercy we have very sound
governance structures and a mission that
has gone from strength to strength in
New Zealand over 162 years. We have a
very experienced management team, an
incredible 130 skilled staff, 550 dedicated
volunteers and a very generous and committed community support base.
I feel so fortunate to have shared my
experiences with you all. Together we
have been able to build a hospice service
that brings people a powerful mix of skill
and compassion.
Leaving Mercy Hospice will be an
enormous wrench. However, Mercy is
still my local community hospice. I will
always support it, visit (and spend) in
our local hospice shops and maintain
tremendous loyalty. One day I hope to
become a volunteer. You see my years at
Mercy have been the absolute highlight
of my career.
Our Board of Directors are currently
seeking a replacement for my role. In the
mean-time I am pleased to let you know
that Lynda Smith, our current Nurse
Leader, will be Acting Chief Executive
until an appointment is made.
Thank you all for all your support. Your
gifts of time, compassion, goods and funds
have touched many thousands of lives during
my time at Mercy Hospice Auckland.
Jan Nichols
f
Dealing with
Bereavement
or Stacy McIvor, the experience
of becoming a widow when
she was just 44 has been a tough
journey. But now, seven years on, Stacy
wants to use what she’s learnt to ease the
path of others who may be feeling isolated
and vulnerable .
“When my husband John died in 2004, we
had two teenage girls and were just in the
middle of our lives together. After that the
little things were really hard. Invitations
arrived to weddings with just my name on
them, and I’d go alone. When new
acquaintances asked my situation, I’d tell
them “I’m a widow” and there’d be this
awkward conversation. I felt like I wasn’t
Stacy anymore. I was someone who didn’t
have John.”
At the time Stacy says her friends wanted
to help, but many of them didn’t know
what to say and others were grieving for
John themselves, so being around Stacy
was hard for them. Then there was the
new territory to negotiate of being single
again. Most single people around Stacy
had separated so their experience was
completely different. “It was a lonely time.”
Stacy and Mercy Hospice Auckland are
hosting an evening for young widows and
widowers under 50 at our College Hill
premises where you can come and be
with people who understand, because
they’ve been there or are going through
it themselves.
Bethany, Stacy and Holly McIvor
“We’ll be showing a great documentary
called Gifts of Grief,” says Stacy, “with a
drink and a chat afterwards. There’ll be no
group discussions or pressure to even talk
about yourself if you don’t want to. We’re
hoping to create an ongoing event so we’ll
be interested to see what people’s ideas
are for that.” Stacy says anyone who
hears her story and relates to her
experience should come along.
7.30pm Friday 15th June at Mercy
Hospice Auckland. Free Entry.
Contact reception on 361 5966 or email:
[email protected]
To find out about our other bereavement
services please see our website, under
“Our Services/Family Support”.
Order Your 2012/13 Entertainment Book Now!
A Mercy Hospice supporter June Barnhill can’t wait to buy the new edition.
“Whenever we go out, we always look at the book first to see where we can go next. We have
saved over $200 already. When my daughter and grand daughter come up from Waikato we use
the book and I swap coupons with my sister who lives in Orewa.”
Available from our website: www.mercyhospice.org.nz
remembr ance
service
4pm at Mercy Hospice Auckland, 24th June.
Refreshments will be served afterwards.
Trusts and Grant
Thank Yous
Public Trust - Louisa & Patrick Emmett Murphy
Foundation - significant contribution to the Opening
Doors Programme
3
W EE K
MA
First “Hospice Cuppa”
a great success
Karin Pepping is a woman with a lot
of friends and a big life to put them in.
She has four children aged 5 to 13 and an
inclination to enjoy herself. She also has a
fond spot in her heart for Mercy Hospice
Auckland after her husband Keith Simpson
was diagnosed with kidney cancer, aged
41. “Keith passed away three years ago now
and it’s only been recently that I feel a can
give something back without having a huge
cloud over my head.”
Karin has thrown the first Hospice
Cuppa of the season at her place, inviting
seven friends over for morning tea in
return for a koha. “It’s really easy. Hospice
has basically done all the work and I’ve just
called the girls.”
“I’ll be throwing a Cuppa during
appeal week,” says her friend Bridget,
“and my cake tier’s bigger”. “I’ll be throwing
a cocktail party,” says Rachael, another
friend and volunteer at Mercy Hospice
Auckland. There’s obviously a rich vein of
enthusiastic rivalry among these girls but
they are quick to point out Karin’s gift for
great fundraisers. Last year she organised
a concert for 100 friends in memory of
Keith and raised $4000 for Mercy
Hospice Auckland. She also volunteered
at the Strawberry Festival, selling
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OSPICE A
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Karin Pepping
hundreds of bowls of strawberries and
ice cream.
“Until Keith went through hospice I had
no idea their services were so all
encompassing,” Karin explains. “It’s not just
about the patient, it’s about friends and
family too. Having a Hospice Cuppa is just
a great way to say thank you. It’s not
personal, it’s just productive and social.”
Karin is struggling to make herself heard
over the din of her morning tea. “All these
girls know you come with a story or you don’t
bother coming.” If her friends want to trump
this gathering, they might have to throw a
cuppa in curlers and roller skates.
Host your own Hospice Cuppa
with colleagues, friends or family.
Simply ask your guests to join you for a cuppa, bringing a
donation with them that goes to Hospice. There is a free
Hospice Cuppa pack to help you with your fundraising
that includes: Dilmah tea, Caffe L’affare coffee, Recipes by
2011 Masterchef winner Nadia Lim, invites and a donation box. To register and for more information visit
www.hospicecuppa.co.nz or phone 376 7574. All hosts and guests go in the draw to WIN a High
Tea
experience for 6 at the beautiful Peace and Plenty in Devonport. All participating companies go in the draw
to WIN a delicious morning tea platter delivered to your workplace courtesy of The Luscious Food Store.
Nadia’s Kitchen Cook Book
Fresh, bright and beautiful, Nadia’s Kitchen is a must-have collection of delicious recipes by 2011 Masterchef winner Nadia Lim that are
simple for the home cook to create. Arranged by seasons, the recipes are complete meals, driven by what is fresh at the time. An added
bonus is Nadia Lim’s strong yet common-sense food philosophy, driven by her qualifications as a dietician and her desire to simply get
people into the kitchen cooking balanced meals with fresh ingredients. Each recipe is complete with nutrition information. Nadia’s mix of
4
1
Event
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UpDates
C e le
b r a t i o n of
Roy al
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R o y al
>
A
‘10’ - A Celebration of Tastes
Our sumptuous “10” event is coming up
on June 10 at Pullman Auckland and we
are excited to be sharing our fundraiser
with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this
year (well, almost). To celebrate, we have
a very special item available in our
prestigious auction - Not just a trip for
two to London, but a purposefully
created four course dinner for the same
lucky pair at Peter Gordon’s London
restaurant, ‘The Providores’.
That’s exactly the kind of opportunity our
esteemed MC and NZ Listener food
columnist, Lauraine Jacobs, loves about
our event. “You can get your hands on
things at “10” that you just wouldn’t
otherwise have the opportunity to
experience,“ she says. “The best part is, of
course, the delicious food and wine from ten
top restaurants in Auckland such as The
French Café and Andiamo and wineries like
Coopers Creek and Mt Beautiful. Usually it’s
hard to choose even one restaurant to go to
for remarkable dining.”
Tickets are $200 or a table for 10 is
$2000. “Everyone leaves 10 on the Sunday
afternoon with the most wonderful feeling,”
Lauraine says. “It brings so many things I
love together, food, wine and giving back to
Hospice which I have so much admiration
for. All on a cosy, wintry Sunday. I’m really
looking forward to it.”
Tables are selling fast so book yours
today. Call Lesley Dawson direct
on 376 4571 or email
Lesley.dawson @mercyhospice.org.nz
4
1. Heroic Gardens:
The sixteenth Heroic Gardens Festival was a hugely successful weekend for
garden lovers and Mercy Hospice Auckland, providing some rich inspiration for
the green thumbs who attended. Stable weather provided the perfect backdrop
for people to take an exclusive peek at 24 native and sub-tropical gardens across
Auckland, raising a whopping $78,000 for Mercy Hospice Auckland. Thank you
to Heroic Gardens for choosing us as your charity this year and to our sponsors
Steve Williams, Exhibition Hire Services, Display Works, Palmco and local artist
John Papas.
2. Take Friday Off Golf Day:
For the second year, Richard White and Chris Dunn from Harcourts Ponsonby
organised an outstanding Golf Day for us, raising $21,000 for Mercy Hospice
Auckland. Players on the day generously took in a round at the beautiful
Chamberlain Park Golf Course where they were catered to by Ponsonby’s
finest restaurants and bars before relaxing at the clubhouse to enjoy live music,
competitions and auctions. Thank you Richard and Chris for another great event
and a big thanks to the sponsors of the day too: Ponsonby News, McEntee Hire,
Rocpac, Lion, Glengarry, SPQR, The Fridge, Long Room, The NZ Herald, Elske,
Covo, Bedlam, Herne Bay Local, Owens Freight, McMillan Mini, Villa Maria,
Briscoes, Davis Funerals, GPK, Harbourside and The Warriors.
Fashion Shows
3. Remuera
For the second year running the proceeds from Remuera Business Association’s
elegant charity fashion event “Remuera On Style” have been donated to Mercy
Hospice Auckland. Our event Manager, Lesley Dawson, was there at Remuera’s
Community Library Thursday March 15 as support and said it was “a sophisticated
and elegant show.” TV personality Matai Smith hosted the event where the in-store
Autumn/Winter fashion collections for 2012 were modelled by local shoppers and
a sprinkling of celebrities. Some choice auction items were up for grabs, including
a dinner for six at local wine bar, Pyrenees and a long weekend getaway package
to the Bed of Roses, KeriKeri travelling in a BMW car from Team McMillan. The
evening raised $14,200. Thank you Remuera!
4. Ponsonby
Meanwhile The Ponsonby Business Association (PBA) threw “A Night of Fabulous
Fashion” on Tuesday March 27, attracting top fashion house names to the catwalk
at the Longroom and donating all auction proceeds to Mercy Hospice Auckland.
Comedian, Dai Henwood, MC’ed a night that was enriched with the Winter 2012
collections from top labels such as Taylor, Zambesi, Robyn Mathieson and Yvonne
Bennetti. Ponsonby Business Association organiser Viv Rosenburg says the night
was attended by “…all the fashionable and generous people of Auckland.”
Mercy Hospice Auckland received $13,600.
Thank you Ponsonby!
* Please note: all results reported above are net profits
Asian and European ancestry is evident in her food style, with Kiwi, Mediterranean and Asian flavour-inspired
dishes. For more information about Nadia’s Kitchen visit www.nadialim.com
You can purchase a signed copy of Nadia’s Kitchen for $55 plus $5.50 postage. $20 from
each sale will go to Hospice. Visit our website and look for the Online Shop button on the
homepage: www.mercyhospice.org.nz or phone Verity on 361 5966 to place your order.
5
OPENINGDOORS
Two of our patients have had special experiences this year thanks to
businesses, organisations and individuals who have gone out of their
way to make great things happen for them. Read on…
Stanley Mackey
Livingston Tuitama
Stanley Mackey had always wanted to ride in a Lamborghini. One
otherwise unremarkable Wednesday morning we decided to try
and realise his ambition. There are few places one can source a
Lamborghini, and so we called Karl McKinnon at Giltrap Motors
and told him about Stanley. He said, “Give me half an hour”.
By 11:30am, Stanley was moved from zero to 100kph in just 3.8
seconds, hugging the Norwestern motorway like a cat on the
back of a mule. Karl, you’re a gem.
The following Saturday, Stanley passed away a very happy man.
What started as a huge Rugby World Cup disappointment for
Opening Doors patient Livingston Tuitama, became an absolute
dream come true. Livingston had been offered sought-after
tickets to both the Semi-final and Final of the Cup but these
golden opportunities were scuppered by his health. He couldn’t
use the tickets.
Recently, with the help of Ben Meyer at the Auckland Blues
Development Squad, a spot was opened up for Livingston to go
down to the hallowed Eden Park grounds and watch the Blues
practice, complete with seven of the All Blacks who are now
World Champions.
Livingston with Daniel Braid
The boys took time to
meet with Livingston,
take a photo and offer
him a jersey they had all
signed. ‘Chuffed’ is a
good word for a bloke
impressedby his
circumstance.
Livingston was
really chuffed.
Stanley in Lamborghini
Thanks again to everyone who helped with these unique events. It is a real privilege to make
things happen for patients where we can. It means so much.
An important part of
what we do at Mercy
Hospice Auckland is
caring not just for our
patients, but for anyone
in our community who
may be affected by grief
and loss.
Artists Deborah Smith and Melissa
Anderson Scott created an initiative
called ‘Cloud Workshop’, designed to
provide a space for young people to come
together without pressure, create
thoughtfully designed artwork and be
reminded that they are not alone. Mercy
Hospice Auckland has been hosting the art
sessions and Family Support Team Leader
Tim Hurley says they’ve been fantastic.
“Families hear about the workshops through
us or sometimes they’re referred by Starship,
Child Cancer or other agencies. They all have
a range of reasons for being here.”
Cloud
Workshop
6
The latest Cloud Workshop attracted
22 young people working alongside a
broad range of creative professionals,
from architects to fine artists, including
celebrated guest artist John Reynolds.
John contributed a major work to the
Sydney Biennale in 2006 entitled,
coincidentally, “Cloud”. The installation
of more than 7000 pieces used Kiwi
vernacular as its reference point and was
dedicated to his late Father.
“Today was inspiring,” says John of the
workshop. “There was a happy dynamic of
young people, just engrossed in the adventure
of collective art-making and giving voice to
their personal loss.”
Workshop participant Livvy (17) found
John’s “Cloud” concept a helpful starting
point for her work. “Today I had a chance
to remember some of the things my mother
said to me and did with me. Although I
always have her in my head I find I am
forgetting some of the words she used and I
put some of those on the canvas.”
You can view the works created at the Cloud Workshop in the Family Lounge at Mercy Hospice Auckland. Further Cloud
Workshops will be held during the year. The next one will be 27th May. For further details please contact Tim Hurley 361 5966.
Hospice Shop Locations:
|
Ellerslie and Furniture Shop 188 Ladies Mile, Ellerslie Town Centre. Ph 579 1208 Royal Oak
|
728 Manukau Rd (opp Pak’N Save carpark). Ph 625 9300 Ponsonby 300 Ponsonby Rd (Three Lamps end).
|
|
Ph 376 5301 Mt Eden 453 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden Village. Ph 630 7110 Pt Chev Arcade. Ph 849 2258
|
Blockhouse Bay 560 Blockhouse Bay Rd (at the roundabout) Ph 627 0128
Treasure
Hidden
T
here is a treasure that has been at Mercy Hospice Shop Ponsonby since the day it opened
its doors six and a half years ago, but she’s not for sale .
Sister Patrice is due to celebrate her Golden Jubilee as a Sister of Mercy in April this year and fifty years of service have not
dampened her enthusiasm for hard work and good company. She spends three days a week volunteering at Mercy Hospice Shop Ponsonby
and is admired by her co-workers for her stamina and eye for detail.
of a lunch out with shop staff. “They spoil
me,” smiles Sister Patrice, who loves her
job at the Mercy Hospice Shop Ponsonby
and is very excited about her upcoming
Jubilee celebrations. She will be sharing
the day with Sister Agnes who entered
the convent with her all those years ago.
“I don’t like too much focus on me,” she
explains, noting that her actual Jubillee
was in November last year. “I’ve waited to
do it with Agnes. It’ll be much nicer.”
In Memory Of…
When Glenis Rasmussen had the opportunity to celebrate
her late dear friend Rayleen Hewitt recently through one of our
memorial tiles, she didn’t hesitate.
“It was such a pleasure to have known Rayleen and a privilege to
be around her. I thought it would be a lovely tribute to remember her
by, particularly for her sons to remember their mum.”
Rayleen died of ovarian cancer in May 2007. Her son Peter
hadn’t been back to Mercy Hospice Auckland since she had
passed away. Last year he came to view her tile on 18th January
which was her birthday. Peter told Glenis afterward how moved
he had been by the experience and how well treated he was
by the chaplain here. “I so appreciate the care Hospice Staff gave
Peter that day,” Glenis told us.
“It gave him some peace.
With Rayleen’s tile there, he
knows he can visit anytime.
I just want the staff there to
know how it’s touched our lives.”
If you would like to remember
a loved one with a memorial
tile, please contact Sandy
Rayleen with Peter
McGregor on 361 5966.
Mercy Hospice
Scoops the Pool at Z
Customers at Z city petrol stations have
voted overwhelmingly for Mercy Hospice
to receive a $6,150 donation.
Tony Burnett, Stephne & Sandy from Mercy Hospice,
Carol Burnett & Helen Brabazon from Pt Chev Hospice shop
Sister Patrice Lovell, with volunteers
Barbara Fredric and Jan McCullum
“She spends all day standing up, steaming
the clothes, making tea, taking great care
with all the donated items” says Group
Retail Manager Maria Baird. “We call her
“Steamalina”, but she’s absolutely right, the
clothes do fetch more money when they look
good. She’s always right”
Sister Patrice is fussed over, cajoled
and listened to by her co-workers with
great affection. She shares her birthday
with St. Patrick and so on cue, a homemade birthday cake arrives at work ahead
The owners of nine Z (pronounced Zed) stations in Auckland
City, Carol and Tony Burnett, say the community has responded
very positively to being asked which charities Z should donate
to. “It seems as though Mercy Hospice scoops the pool so far,” said
Carol of the result.
We are thrilled that customers gave us at least 40% of a total
$15,000 at Z Pt Chevalier; Quay St and Kepa Rd. This is a great
example of how we can partner with business. Thank you Z and
thanks everyone! We can’t exist without your support.
7
Charities Commission # CC31621
If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please let us know: Tel: 09 361 5966.
Fax: 09 361 5977 email: [email protected] PO Box 47693 Ponsonby, 1144, Auckland
“More like Angels”
by Sally Eustace
e may be born alone and sadly die
alone - but our life in between is a
labyrinth of past, new and ongoing
relationships. Few people can, or would
even want to, exist alone. We are all
members of a community of some form
and it is within communities that many
people find the true meaning and satisfaction
in their lives.
In my role as Manager of the Ellerslie
Business Association I have discovered
a community in Ellerslie that has a “real
sense of community” like no other place
I have lived or worked. People stand up
for what they believe in, they really care.
They help each other, they smile and talk.
When something needs doing, the locals
roll up their sleeves and get on with it.
They give their time, and when they are
really busy, they do even more.
However recently I discovered another
community that makes a real difference not just in people’s lives, but more
importantly in how they die.
This last summer (if we can call it
that) will be sadly, fondly and poignantly
remembered for the passing away of my
father-in-law after his long slow battle
with cancer. He succumbed after eight
months in the final round. However at 82
it was not tragic or sudden, but all part of
the cycle of life that we must all face and

P
Mr David Eustace
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ultimately let our loved one go.
It is not so much his death that will be
remembered but the journey towards
that moment during which he spent the
last 40 days and nights of his life at Mercy
Hospice. The care, compassion, skills,
humour and humility that the wonderful
nurses, medical staff and volunteers
showed towards him (and the whole
family) during this time was incredible.
They may be professionals in their training
but the way they managed and delivered
their palliative care they were more like
Angels. Words fail me.
During this time there were many
special moments where the whole family
gathered at his bedside to acknowledge
and celebrate a wonderful man who had
lived a full and interesting life. The vintage
port was well appreciated. Christmas
Day proved an interesting challenge for
each of us with the dilemma of “What
do you give a dying man for Christmas?”
It ranged from the humorous to light
reading - all which was appreciated and
acknowledged. Then my daughter handed
Grandad an envelope, beautifully hand
decorated, with appropriate sentiments
inside and a voucher for ‘Three Ducks’.
The room fell silent and there was a
quizzical look on everyone’s faces. Her
donation to Oxfam would buy three
ducks for a village in some third-world
country - not specified. Grandad was
visibly touched. Later that evening, he
in turn gave the voucher to thank the
evening nurse from Latin America whose
family had suffered in recent flooding.
She was reduced to tears in gratitude.
What was present was simply a piece
of paper. The donation had been made
on-line by credit card, and was promised
that three ducks would be delivered to
help make a difference in a third world
country somewhere. What was so
poignant was not what gift was being
given - it was how it was given and what
it meant.
For us the family, Mercy Hospice gave
us the gift of knowledge and comfort that
our most precious husband, father, fatherin-law and grandad was being cared for
so professionally and tenderly. All with
such dignity and compassion, far beyond
the capability of what we could have
done for him in his last few weeks.
Every family has its own moments of
need. So when life is going well we must
never forget that it is far more fulfilling
to give than it is to receive.
lease post this donation response to mercy hospice auckland
in the envelope provided. Or visit www.mercyhospice.org.nz to donate online.
I wish to donate by Automatic payment, please send me details
D.O.B:
/
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I wish to make a bequest to hospice, please send me details
I have left a bequest to Mercy Hospice Auckland in my will
Gifts over $5 are tax deductible. We would normally post a receipt thanking you for your gift. If you would prefer
this to be emailed to save us the postage please tick here
and provide your email address in the space above.
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