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St. Nicholas'
Childrens Hospice
Providing quality in life; dignity in death; and support in
bereavement to children with life-limiting illness and their
families.
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The St Nicholas Children’s Hospice was
founded in 1998 in Bloemfontein to meet the increasing need
for a special programme for children with life-limiting and
life-threatening conditions in a way that respected the
special rights, needs and vulnerabilities of these children.
 St Nicholas is known by children as Santa Claus, the bringer
of gifts and joy to children . We knew we cannot give these
children the gift of long-life, but we can give these
children the gift of quality of life and relief of
suffering.
At the end of his hat, we placed a starfish as a reminder of
the beautiful story of the older man walking along a beach,
where hundreds of starfish had been washed up and were dying
out of the sea. Ahead of him another young man was picking
up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. When the
older man asked him why he was doing this as the numbers
were so great he could not hope to make a difference, the
younger man picked up a starfish, threw it into the sea and
said: “I have made a difference to this one!”
Over the past 10 years thousands of children have received
hospice palliative care through one or more of our
programmes. Palliative care for children is the care of the
body, mind and spirit of the child with a life-limiting
condition and their family, into the bereavement period.
Children who can be referred to St Nicholas include those
with HIV/AIDS; Cancer; genetic conditions that are
life-limiting; complications of trauma; severe disabilities;
organ failure – such as heart failure, respiratory failure,
liver and renal failure. Children with severe malnutrition
such as Kwashiokor and Marasmus; new-born babies who have
suffered from oxygen deficiency.
Care is provided by a Medical director, Professional Nurses,
Staff Nurse, Auxiliary Nurses, Social Worker, an Orphan and
Vulnerable Child Co-ordinator and well-trained Child
Caregivers.
Training is also provided by a Nurse tutor for staff,
volunteers and professionals.
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