Caring for little patients has been sister’s calling
Nurse’s decades of dedication to parents and tots coming to an end
FOR decades, Sister Jane Booth has not only treated the littlest patients at The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, but also empowered their parents to care for their sick children.
Booth will say farewell to the hospital she has worked at since 1979 at the end of this month, but said she felt fulfilled.
Booth is an advanced paediatric clinical nurse and also the co-founder of the Breatheasy Programme – a unique initiative that sends technology-dependent patients home with ventilators and tracheostomies by teaching their parents how to look after them.
“I first came here in 1972, but that was at the beginning of my training, and became qualified in 1979 and have worked here ever since. When I came back, I did a paediatric course and worked in ICU.
“There were many children in the hospital that had tracheotomies and their lives were saved in ICU; now they needed a hole to breathe through for a couple of years. Doctors were not PITSO Shomang, 38, has given children with disabilities in Rustenburg and surrounding areas a reason to shine, at a two-day sport and cooking competition held at the Sun City Resort.
The campaign, called “Look Beyond Our Disability”, promotes equal treatment of people with disabilities.
Shomang said through the cooking competition, he was creating awareness for companies to include those with disabilities in the work space.
“We shouldn’t let people take us for granted, or make us take ourselves for granted. Disabled or not, we all have a role to play in society,” said the self-taught chef.
Shomang is the owner of an NGO called Chef PI Kell’s Disability Foundation. comfortable sending them home.”
Booth said she eventually decided to start a home-care programme that would train and allow parents to care for their children after tracheotomy surgery.
“We started home ventilation, which meant they needed a machine to breathe, and that is thanks to the advancement of technology.
``We didn’t want them staying The organisation works with children with disabilities.
Shomang has an epileptic disorder which affects his speech and body movements. But he said bringing visibility to the disabled community was a step towards his dream of opening his own restaurant.
Three learners from Iteko Special School in Tlhabane, near Rustenburg, took the crown for best chefs. long-term in hospital; we wanted to send them home, and the wonderful thing is we have been able to train moms and uplift them and made them feel empowered to take control of their lives.”
She said she then became more involved with the Breatheasy programme. “For me it has been the most unbelievable experience, it’s like I don’t even have a job because I enjoy what I do so much. It’s so uplifting for me to do all of this and to be able to have the autonomy of setting up something and running with it.”
Booth said she was anxious about making the decision to leave, but had trained another nurse to take over the programme and was positive it would continue to help young lives.
“For the last three years I have trained another sister, and she will take over. It will continue to be sustainable.
“I have been so enriched by the whole experience, I don’t think I will lose touch with (hospital staff) and I’m sure I will remain in touch with them. I feel fulfilled.”
Booth has a new grandchild upon whom she plans to dote, and will still look after private patients.
The trio beat Temogo Special School in Mogwase, which came second, and Reaoleboga Special school in Moruleng, which came third.
Amogelang Seutke, 18, Tshegofatso Sempe, 15, and Nomalanga Mohau, 16, worked together to emerge victorious.
“We’re happy we won. I’m glad all the practising was useful,” Tshegofatso said.