In the past four years, Rachel’s House nurses have cared for over 100 children from poor families. As the first pediatric palliative care service in Indonesia, Yayasan Rumah Rachel (Rachel’s House) struggled to gain recognition and support back when the medical practice was poorly understood.

However, their endeavor gradually won praise in the community.

“The most challenging part was to figure out how to recruit the right people for the job. How do we train nurses? How do we teach the community what palliative care or a hospice is? When we first hired our nurses, they asked us, how do we care for people when they are dying?” Lynna Chandra, the foundation’s founder, told The Jakarta Post.

In developing countries, palliative care is often neglected. Without help accessing proper medical treatment, children suffering from cancer and HIV are miserable and their families are distressed.

These special patients demand more than just painkillers. Often, what gives them comfort and peace is attention and care.

Chandra explained that palliative care is about honoring the last moments before death. She said, “Patients are referred to us when treatments are no longer viable. Our role is to accompany children in these last days, helping them and their families come to terms with death, keeping them as comfortable as possible by managing the pain and symptoms as they arise and ensuring quality time in these last days.”

To fulfill a demanding job like this, the nurses at Rachel’s House go the extra mile at work. Each day, Rina, Alisda, Susi and Pemidawati travel by motorbike across the city to visit the children’s homes.

While parents are busy trying to make a living, the nurses spend quality time with the children. They teach them math, massage them and talk about their concerns.

Lynna recalled that Alisda spoke about the differences being a palliative care nurse to a group of teachers when the Tutor Time donation campaign was launched for Rachel’s House.

“When I first joined Rachel’s House, I came from a hospital background. Like the other nurses, I made sure my patients were okay then I left. But here, not only do I make sure the kids are comfortable, but I also make sure that I look after the well-being of the children and the well-being of their families,” Alisda said.

For the children, Rachel’s House and the four nurses are special to their hearts.

When nurse Alisda offered patient Jaydi a portable Playstation, which is a distraction for pain, she had no idea it would be a cause of concern for the 14-year-old boy. He asked Alisda with saddened eyes: “If I keep this, does that mean you will not come to see me for a while?”

Sometimes the words of the children reveal the softest part of their hearts. Sometimes it also inspires strength and generosity. Just like Chandra believes, the power of children can influence and change the world. Another young boy’s story proved just that.

Chandra said when the boy died he bequeathed Rachel’s House with his oxygen tank and another organization his wheelchair. He forbade his parents from taking any contributions for his funeral.

“Let other people have the money because Rachel’s House still has to look after other kids,” said the 14-year-old boy.

For more information on Rachel House, go to the following url:
http://rachel-house.org/

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