Hibiscus Hospice Drugs Fund Appeal 2015

Hi, my name is Ruth Alberts and I’m a palliative care doctor at Hibiscus Hospice (that’s me in the photo treating a Hospice patient).

I work every day with people who are dying. Contrary to popular belief many are young and will leave behind small children and grieving extended families. In the meantime, although they may be beyond cure, they still have a lot of living to do.

Everyone’s circumstances are different but our goal is always the same; to ensure every patient is able to get the most out of whatever life they have left – and to ensure that when the time comes, they are able to die with dignity, at peace, and without pain.

With advanced cancer patients representing approximately 75% of Hibiscus Hospice patients, management of their complex symptoms and particularly their pain, is my most pressing concern.

A number of patients require specialist medications which are not funded or subsidised by the government and are very expensive – and that is why I am asking for your help today.

Craig Hunt was one of those patients who needed repeat treatments of the unfunded drug Ketamine and his wife Sharon recalls the difference it made…

“While my husband was dying from bowel cancer I came to understand the meaning of the saying, “no brain, no pain”. As the cancer spread into his bones his pain became complex and doctors continued to increase opium based drugs which affected his brain with mood swings, hallucinations and he struggled to hold thoughts in his head, which was usually very sharp.

It was when Hospice introduced him to Ketamine that within hours he was not only pain free but alert and positive. It was our lifesaver and we could not imagine what those last few months would have been like without it. It was so effective that Hospice were able to manage him at home where they continued to administer the drug and he remained comfortable.

We are so grateful Ketamine was available as it was the only effective drug that kept his pain level low and enabled him to have some quality of life until the end.”

All Hospice services are provided free of charge but the need for unfunded drugs like Ketamine and Octreotide is growing beyond our current means.

The high proportion of patients in 2014 requiring these unfunded drugs has completely exhausted our drugs fund. Please help us replenish this fund for 2015, so that patients with acute pain do not have to suffer.

Working with the Hospice has been challenging for me personally as many patients have been young, leaving small children and grieving families behind. I find myself identifying closely with those who are the same age as I am and have children the same age as mine. I am reminded daily that we should all live each day to the full, be grateful for what we have and appreciate our family and friends while we have them with us.

It would mean a lot to me if you could support Hibiscus Hospice today.

With best wishes

Dr. Ruth Alberts

Palliative Care Doctor

P.S. These examples show how your donation can make a big difference:

$25 Will pay for Octreotide for a patient for one day, relieving nausea and vomiting

$50 Will pay for Octreotide for a patient for two days, relieving nausea and vomiting

$65 Will pay for Ketamine; eliminating acute pain for a patient on low dose of Ketamine, for one day

$150 Will pay for Ketamine; eliminating acute pain for a patient on mid dose of Ketamine, for one day

$210 Will pay for Ketamine;eliminating acute pain for a patient on high dose of Ketamine, for one day