HOSPICE Casa Speraței is raising funds to build two new hospitals: one in Adunații Copăceni, one in Brașov
At HOSPICE, throughout more than 30 years, over 45.000 patients and 100.000 of their family members received free and unconditional palliative care services. Many moments were treasured and many wishes were made true.
But the need for palliative care is massive, and when it comes to wishes, HOSPICE has only a simple one: to help bring palliative care to as many patients as possible. This year, their wish is starting to materialize: 2023 is the year HOSPICE focuses its fundraising efforts on building two new hospitals: one in Brașov for adults, and one in Adunații Copăceni for children.
You too can—easily and free of cost—help lay down this foundation of hope. All you have to do is redirect towards HOSPICE 3,5% of the income tax collected by the state last year. You can fill out Form 230 online: https://www.hospice.ro/3punct5hospice/
Mrs Sanda’s wish: to not let this nasty illness win!
Mrs Sanda is 79 years old. Nothing in her semblance betrays her age. Perhaps, only when she starts recounting all about her life, her illness, her children, grandchildren, and grand-grandchildren, do you begin to realize that it takes a human lifetime to go through it all. In 2008 she noticed a lump in her left breast and went from doctor to doctor, all of them telling her to relax and that everything was fine. The lump kept growing until she finally met with a doctor somebody had recommended. “They told me up front: you have no idea how dire your situation is, you must go in for surgery right away if you want to live.” In 2009 she went into the operating room.
When history repeats itself, you must find your strength
14 years later, she received the most dreaded news: cancer had relapsed. “The first time I found out it came as a great shock to me. The second time, although I thought it couldn’t have felt any worse, the shock was greater. Whereas the first time I was wondering why me, what had I done wrong, the second time I questioned whether I could be strong enough to face all the despair and the collapse.”
According to her, there were no cases of cancer in her family, her mother passed away of old age at 90 and this makes her feel confident. She too can make it to that age. Part of her strength comes from HOSPICE. “My son-in-law brought me here the first time and I am so grateful to him. Just so you can get an idea of how much this place means to me and how much I love coming here, I’ll tell you I even came with my foot in a cast. I was dragging myself along more than walking.”
The illness is a thief, but you must be crafty too
In 1982 she got a divorce and was left alone to care for her four children. She worked hard to afford raising and sending them to school. She can’t help but think how all of these hardships might have helped trigger the illness. “This illness is a thief, it tries to steal your health, your peace, your future. And if you’re dealing with a thief, you must be crafty too, why would you ever let it win?!”
