Winter handouts at the hospital – an officer’s perspective

Some people choose to spend life watching soccer, others movies, horse riding, drinking, and merry-making.

Growing up in a farming community, I often find myself going fishing and a huge catch ignites a ball of happiness within me. The other year I went mountain climbing and oh, what an experience it was!

It was not until recently that I attended a fundraising golf session at Borrowdale Brooke Estate that I again discovered another fascinating world.

The scenery, the green turf, and the water islands made me think I was somewhere in Neverland Ranch, thousands of miles away from the grief-ravaged world of misery inflicted upon us by COVID-19 barely three years ago.

I came off the day with so much excitement I thought I had reached the epitome of joy, having mixed and mingled with the huge corporate executives who generously contributed towards the worthy cause.

Then recently, I further realised yet again, a completely new world out there, that when people are immersed in the joys of eating and drinking, they would never think of.

With my KidzCan team, we visited Parirenyatwa’s A4 Special ward, housing childhood cancer patients to do a Winter-handout, of an assortment of clothing and various goodies donated to us during the course of this year.

Never had I witnessed such palpable satisfaction and a heart-touching experience.

Soon it dawned on me that one of the best things in life is seeing a smile on a person’s face and knowing that you put it there. It is just priceless!

Old and young, the recipients had a momentary lapse of their present discomfort as they sunk in present joy upon receiving the clothes, books, blankets and dolls.

When you are within the confines of a hospital, sometimes you just need a little gift to boost your morale. A hug, gift card, or a letter can do the trick.

More so, when you are young, it means the world to receive a gift in a place that routinely rains you with doses of chemotherapy. Trust me, it makes a lot of a difference.

“Uncle, thank you for the book and jacket, I was freezing in here,” said young Tino after receiving his share.

The joy is even more to the parent/guardian to see your child smiling in circumstances that usually offer little reason to smile.

Imagine going through 8 cycles of chemotherapy over a period that sees you shuttling between home and the hospital hundreds of miles away. Thank you to our partners who made this day possible.