What a surprise and smile, even tears of joy, on the faces of the celebrants and their loved ones when the lovely nurses of "Hospiss Māja" arrive to congratulate the patients in their care (even if they are currently in the hospital) with beautiful bouquets and balloons! One nurse was deeply moved by a note written by a man celebrating his 48th birthday who, due to a tongue tumor and a tracheostomy, could not speak. He wrote: "Thank you very much. With you and the flowers, everything became four times brighter." Others light up with a smile when they see the colorful balloons because they remind them of childhood. Of course, a birthday isn't complete without cake – there’s cake and even non-alcoholic “champagne.” Jānis, upon receiving his cake, laughed that he would eat it all by himself and not share it with anyone because he hadn’t had a real cake in so long! He mentioned that everyone had only been giving him healthy things for his health's sake!
Several patients are lonely individuals and honestly admit that they haven't received such attention in years.
In congratulating the birthday celebrants, we confirm that people don’t need much to feel joy – not impressive gifts or lavish feasts, but just the awareness that they are not forgotten and that someone remembers them. For several of the summer celebrants, it was their last birthday.
Thanks to those who bring the festive spirit: to the baker of the delicious cakes – pastry chef Ramunas Dauginas from "Lido," and to “Livonia” for the non-alcoholic champagne.
If you are a donor to HospissLV, then these flowers and balloons are from you, too! Thank you for helping to bring joy to terminally ill people during celebrations!