Place: Gohri Maphi, Raiwala, Rishikesh
The Ganga Prem Hospice patients and their caregivers enjoyed a day out in a jungle retreat, not far from the Ganga Prem Hospice facility. Thanks to our supporter Vinay Sharma who magnanimously opened his heart and residence to the hospice, everybody had a rejuvenating time out on a sunny Tuesday forenoon on the 2nd of December near the Rajaji national park periphery and by a gurgling creek that runs past the house.
Opening up about one’s fondest life memory
Over two hours, everybody played games, including passing the ball and guessing the name of items displayed corresponding with the lyrics of the songs played. The participants were asked to share their life’s fondest memory. A patient spoke about the time he got into medical school, another about her children, yet another patient wrote a message that the most memorable moment of his life was the day his daughter was born fifteen years ago, and now she was appearing for her Xth standard board exams.
One resident attributed his life’s most important day to GPH, saying the day he got admitted to GPH was like returning from death’s threshold. A patient who could not participate directly, sat a on cane recliner chair, soaking in the sun and watching the activities with interest. When it was time for his meal, a GPH staffer administered him his ryles tube feed.
Nature walk
On a walk-around, the group heard stories of how wildlife could be spotted there sometimes: a leopard here, a deer or a peacock there. The winter temperature did not deter anybody from putting their feet into the stream’s cool waters. A sandalwood tree sapling was planted by the patients at the premises to mark the day of their visit.
Pictures were clicked galore and the picnic was a wonderful way for patients and their family members to bond with their palliative care caregivers in a non-medical setting.