Partnership with Brits-Hartbeespoort Hospice

In November 2003, Hospice of the Chesapeake began the partnership with its sister hospice in Sub-Saharan Africa, Brits-Hartbeespoort Hospice. Through the twinning organization Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa, Inc. (FHSSA), Hospice of the Chesapeake became the first hospice in the Mid-Atlantic to partner with a hospice in Sub-Saharan Africa. FHSSA is an affiliate of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). FHSSA increases public awareness of the AIDS pandemic in South Africa and sponsors people-to-people and program-to-program professional exchanges. In the region of Brits-Hartbeespoort Hospice, there are an estimated 4.3 million people needing AIDS home-based care and it is predicted that by the year 2010 there will be 20 million orphans.

For current news about hospice efforts, and the staff and volunteers that provide care to patients and families in Sub-Saharan Africa, please click Brits-Hartbeespoort newsletter. 

Hospice of the Chesapeake created a "Beads for Brits" fund raising project during the children's bereavement camp, Camp Nabi, during the summer of 2005. Through the tiny hands and big hearts of the campers, Beads for Brits prospered into an initiative that takes place every summer at both Camp Nabi and Phoenix Rising, during the fall at the adult Wabanaki bereavement retreat, during other grief activities and "beading nights" for members of the hospice community. The generosity and spirit of the Camp Nabi children was very contagious, as the project continues to grow at many Hospice of the Chesapeake events and gatherings. For a calendar listing of Beads for Brits sessions, please click here.

As of December 2008, Hospice of the Chesapeake has raised more than $20,000 for Brits Hospice through the sale of the bracelets, World AIDS Day awareness events and other initiatives. The money has been used to buy monthly food parcels for the neediest patients and their families since March of 2006 in Damonsville, a small village of approximately 1,000 homes with at least six people per house and 65 square feet in size. Surrounding this village is an informal settlement of 3,000 people living in shacks. 

In May 2008, the Damonsville Clinic opened its doors and is the care center for many patients and their families needing weekly attention and support. The people of the village and surrounding settlement walk to the Clinic where the hospice nurse, or sister as they are called in South Africa, assesses their health needs, provides them with a meal, and welcomes them to a support group.

No End to Caring…….    

Where did you get those lovely bracelets?  Can I try them on?  This is was my first visit with Hospice of the Chesapeake patient, Debbie.  It was early April, I was wearing two colorful Brits Bracelets the first day I visited with her.  She slipped them on her wrist and immediately remarked how perfect they would be for her sisters, sister-in-law, daughter and neighbors.  It was non-stop chatter about their birthstones and matching bracelets for them.  For a brief moment in time she laid aside her illness.  She was caring about others.    

Is there a reason for hospice making them?  I explained to her our connection with Brits Hospice and how the used the funds from the bracelets.  Her eyes grew wider and she had yet to see the selection back at the office.  Oh, honey, I need to support Hospice and the hospice that you support because all of you have given me so much help.  Can you bring me the bracelets next week to see? I’m already making a list in my mind of those who will receive them.

On, April 6th I returned with not only the bracelets sorted by color in a round reed basket but I also brought along the photo album from 2007 when Karen and Elizabeth visited Brits Hospice.  The day was close to 90 degrees, it had been a difficult day for Debbie.  Her hands lack coordination, she shares that her thoughts are jumbled and she wonders aloud if her cancer is progressing.  And yet, there I was with the surprises in a basket – all colors and designs.

When I moved the basket to her tray table her eyes lit up and there was this gigantic smile on her face.  I didn’t know you would bring me so many to look at.   Before she began trying on the bracelets, I went through the photograph album page by page.  When we reached the pages with the children her response was no children should have to suffer.  Her caring was reaching deeper into her heart when she said perhaps my contribution will make a small gift to one or more of these families.  We spent precious time chatting and choosing just the right bracelet for each person on her list and after 26 bracelets were selected she sat back and smiled.  I admit there was a lump in my throat as she perused the pages and touched each bracelet one by one with gentle care.

You know Katharine there may not be many bracelets that return to hospice off of this basket, did you count how many you brought?  I told her I brought 47 bracelets.  I took one of the larger bracelets off the tray and slipped it onto her wrist.  Debbie, this one is for you for the colors of the rainbow for the promise you are giving to others.

Not wanting to tire her out I had one more request.  Would I be permitted to take her picture with the bracelets, so that we could use it for Hospice and for those little ones in South Africa?  I had to convince her that the pajamas she was wearing was not the essence of what others would be seeing but instead the beautiful woman who was giving so much for others.  And, so she let me take photos after photo.  Eventually, she enjoyed it.  Trying on heart bracelets and modeling them on her wrist. 

We gently put them on her table for her to ready herself for the hospice nurse’s visit.  But what remained was the smile on her face and knowing that she too was making a difference…… for others.

I can’t wait to see how many gifts she bestows to others through her endless caring.

Rev. Katharine Rice, Chaplain

For more information on Hospice of the Chesapeake's partnership with Brits-Hartbeespoort Hospice, please contact Karen Frank at 410.987.2129 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .