What’s your horoscope? Taurus?Or is it Gemini? Maybe it’s Libra or probably Pisces…aargh whichever it is, just dm me. Well, mine is Cancer. Lately, I’ve found myself researching on what exactly this horoscope is all about. One thing stood out for me…even now as you are reading, I’m still surprised by this discovery. You know the symbol for Cancer is a ’69’…yeah???Ok maybe you don’t but now you knoooowwww. So I learnt the 69 doesn’t have anything to do with what you know 69 signifies. Instead, it’s a crab…a CRAB! This is not an article to teach you about stars…go find out more, yourself. I thought this would be a cute way of reminding you that we are now in the Cancer season; the season in which amazing people like MYSELF celebrate our birthdays.

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It’s been an amazing 4 weeks getting to share with you the much I know about Cancer. It has actually been a MAJOR win for me, because putting together this series has really brought me from my comfort zone. How has it been for you? I really hope it’s been an eye-opener on matters Cancer because that was its objective. So as we wrap this up today, I thought I should end it with a brief discussion on palliative care.

Palliative Care is meant to relieve the patient’s pain and make them as comfortable as is possible. It entails ensuring the patient is having a balanced diet, they are taking their drugs as prescribed, they are exercising, they have enough drugs…generally doing anything and everything that will make the patient’s life more comfortable and happier.

Earlier on in the year, I was lucky to work in a hospice, The Meru Hospice. Hospices are meant to care for terminally ill patients. I mean attending to their emotional needs, their spiritual needs, providing pain killers and tracking the patient’s health progress.

Meru Hospice is in Meru, around a kilometre past Tuskys Supermarket. The institution as at mid-February, was attending to at least 600 patients from all over Meru and the neighbouring counties of Tharaka-Nithi and Isiolo.

My experience at the institution is the inspiration for this series. Every day I’d interact with patients in so much pain and at times, even relatives that did not have any other straw to clutch on and were therefore hopeless. Constantly dealing with such category of people is draining in every way but God’s grace was always sufficient.

Basically what happens at the institution is care for terminally ill patients. For Meru Hospice a large percentage of their clients are Cancer patients. FYI, Cancer is a huge pandemic in Meru. So all that is required from the patient is the biopsy confirming that they have cancer. From then on, the amazing team at the hospice will take care of the patient; from administering painkillers, to frequent medical check-ups with their resident nurse(s), to home visits, to Christmas parties, counselling sessions, group therapies…you know anything to just make the patients and their families be a bit more comfortable.

You might be wondering how the institution manages to do all this. So this is how. Annually, there is a walk aimed at raising funds that’ll be used to cater for the patients. Definitely funds raised once per year won’t manage the patients the whole year. Therefore, donations are a huge plus for the institution. This is where you, my reader, comes in.

You most probably have walked me with me through out this series (if you haven’t, click on the previous posts below). I’ve talked of what exactly cancer is, how much of a burden it is to the patients and their families…I’ve highlighted everything you need to know about Cancer. Do you mind easing the patients’ pain by adding to Meru Hospice’s kitty? Any form of contribution be it foodstuff, clothes, money, prayers…anything is highly welcome. For any inquiries, air them out via this number, +254 705 095259. Their till number is 80171.Thank you for accepting to be a blessing to these patients especially at a time like now. May God keep expanding your boundaries.

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Ideally, I publish blogs on Fridays but I thought I should put this on hold ili I properly sign off the year this has been. Coincidentally this blog is the last one of the Cancer series and I appreciate the feedback I’ve gotten from you. My parting shot as I sign off is “Always strive to be a blessing to others!!!”

See you in the next chapter of my life.

~Bible Vibes~

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11