V
itas House Hospice was a dream
of Dr. George Laquis for many
years before it became a reality.
Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society’s
Chairman had been inspired by the
works and words of two women who
cared about the terminally ill: Elizabeth
Kubler-Ross, who wrote the ground-
breaking book on Death and Dying,
and Cicely Saunders, a British nurse
who recognized that too many people
were dying in pain and who were
ignored by the medical establishment.
At age 47, Kubler-Ross became a
doctor and dedicated her life and
knowledge to humanizing the system.
She is the founder of the modern
hospice movement.
From a dream came the reality that
is Vitas House Hospice. It is run by
an independent group of people and
funded by generous donations from
individuals, businesses, families of
patients, funeral collections, etc.
The ultimate funding aim is to strive
to attain corporate sponsorship in an
attempt to continue the important work
that we do at Vitas House Hospice.
VITAS HOUSE OPERATION
Vitas House Hospice is a subsidiary
of the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer
Society but is, however, governed by its
own Board of Directors.
It is a free service offered to and
accessible to all terminally ill cancer
patients who have exhausted medical
resources and have a life expectancy of
six (6) months or less, keeping in mind
that medicine and prognostic factors
are not an exact science
Vitas House Hospice opened its doors
in a completely renovated building
made available by NWRHA at the St.
James Medical Complex in October
2009. It is a twelve (12) bed facility that
VITAS HOUSE HOSPICE
112 WESTERN MAIN ROAD
ON THE COMPOUND OF ST JAMES
MEDICAL COMPLEX,
ST JAMES, TRINIDAD, W.I.
TEL: 628-4673 (HOPE)
EMAIL :
WEBSITE : VITASHOUSEHOSPICE.COM
Enhancing the quality of life and
dignifying its terminal stages through
special care, support and service.
offers 24 hour medical and nursing
care, seven (7) days a week.
VITAS HOUSE TEAM
We are a group of people dedicated to
caring for terminally ill cancer patients.
The belief that “no-one should die
alone” is an important part of hospice
care and one embraced completely by
Vitas House Hospice personnel.
Patients are supported by a staff that
makes sure all their requirements are
met, whether physical, emotional
or spiritual, and that their stay is as
comfortable as possible. Our staff
ensures that all our patients’ needs
are taken care of and that Vitas House
Hospice continues to operate at an
optimal level. We are also fortunate
to have a group of volunteers who
dedicate their time and effort to patient
care, fundraising and marketing.
You matter because of who you are.
You matter at the last moment of your
life, and we will do all we can, not only
to help you die peacefully, but also live
until you die - Dame Cecily Saunders
14
15
O
ur grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without
rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire
lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses,
friends - and hardly ever our own grown children. ~Ruth
Goode
Being a grandparent is a joy many of us want to live long to
enjoy. It’s one of life’s stages as we find ourselves graduating
from being a parent to a ‘Grand Parent.’ It’s a milestone that
lets you relive parenthood all over again but from a joyful
distance - able to hand back the baby at the end of the day!
As you hold your grandchild for the first time you remember
how small your own child was, that signature scent of a
newborn baby, the feel of that velvet smooth baby skin and
relish how precious a gift of a grandchild really is.
Do you know what happens next? Those around you start
asking you what you want your grandchild to call you. Is
it going to be Nana or Nani? Mama or Papa? Grandma or
Grandpa? Mamey? Gramps? or the more formal option of
Grandmother or Grandfather? Admit it, it’s something you
didn’t give much thought to, but now that your grandchild is
here it’s definitely got you thinking.
My sister, Shireen was a grandparent at 50yrs and insisted
there was no way she wanted her grand daughter to call
her Grandma –“I’m too young for that!” she laughed. My
brother-in-law, Ansari simply sat there bewildered as his
daughters joked about the numerous names his newborn
grandson could call him. We are still waiting for the day
both of these grandchildren refer to their grandparents by
name.
What about other people? Sheldon from the popular TV
series ‘Big Bang’ calls his grandmother ‘Meemaw’ – a title I
had personally never heard before. Celebrity grandmother
Goldie Hawn says her grandchildren calls her “Glamma”
because she is a glamorous grandma.
Nowadays, the options are much more than you realize.
That said, the truth is your grandchild is not going to say
an identifiable word for at least another year, yet alone say,
“Grandparent.” When the moment arrives you will probably
accept whatever your grandchild decides to call you. One
grandmother by the name of Kathy, was trying to get her
grandchild to say ‘Grama Kathy.’ The grandchild tried and
tried but just couldn’t pronounce it and called her ‘Appy’ the
name stuck and is presently still used with affection.
You may even find yourself being the one who decides
what your grandchild calls you, by saying things like,
“come to Papa or come to Mama.” My own daughters
only distinguish between the grandfathers. They call my
husband’s dad ‘Grandpa’ and my dad is ‘Grand-dad.’ But
both grandmothers are referred to as ‘Grandma.’
Even though we are part of the baby boomers generation
who can’t wait for a grandchild to arrive, we are also
the generation who can’t imagine ourselves as being
grandparents with those wrinkly old terms. My own
memories of my grandparents conjure up images of my
grandmother wearing an ohrini on her head with a full dress
to the ground and my grandfather wearing his signature
hat. So, whatever name your grandchild calls you, the
important thing is that you get to be a part of defining your
legacy and creating the relationship you want with your own
grandchild.
What does your Grandchild call You?
By Nadia Ali (TTARP Member)
