ThembaCare Athlone is an 18 bed pediatric palliative care hospice. ThembaCare Athlone provides safe care for children suffering from HIV/AIDS or other life threatening diseases.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

December News


Christmas might officially only be in a month’s time, but here at TCA we have started celebrating early and joyfully! On 19 November, TL Mechanics treated the staff to a delicious TCA-family braai, with real Karoo lamb! The previous weekend saw a cell group from Community of Saints Church serve the TCA caregivers with a specially prepared lunch and wonderful gifts. The caregivers, who have served the children with so much love and dedication this year, were extremely grateful and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Christmas time is usually a joyful time for most of the TCA children, as they are treated with gifts and most of the children get to spend some extra time at home with their families. On the other hand, there are always some children who stay behind, watching the others wave goodbye, as they do not have a home to go to. However, this year three of our children who would still have been with us over Christmas time have found foster families to celebrate this holiday season with! 

One of these children, toddler A, has filled a special space at TCA since she was only a baby: she took her first steps, spoke her first words and even wore her first ponytails at TCA. This year she will clap her hands to the Christmas carols with her new family, where she has already settled in beautifully! 

Although we will miss this joyful girl, we know that this is the next step to the hope and the future that God has in store for her.