Stepping Stone Hospice finally has their own home
On November 30 this year, they signed an agreement with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa which now enables them to purchase the piece of land on which they are currently situated, from the Church.
After many years of planning, brainstorming, rejection and disappointment, Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services in New Market Park finally realised their ultimate dream on December 9.
On November 30 this year, they signed an agreement with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa that now enables them to purchase the piece of land on which they are currently situated from the church.
“We could not have asked for a bigger, more magical present, especially at this time of year,” said a jubilant Tersia Burger, CEO of Stepping Stone Hospice.
The Hospice’s In-Patient Unit was established in 2013 on the grounds of Amcare in New Market Park. The grounds belong to the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.
Even though Hospice has through the years looked at many other options for owning and building its own premises, it instinctively knew that the current location was the best in terms of availability to its patients.
“When Reverend Jeff van der Spuy was appointed at the Alberton Methodist Church, we entered into renewed talks and negotiations. He has a heart for the work we do as a Hospice and has fought tirelessly for us on many levels. Van der Spuy took our plea to the AMCARE Board, the Alberton Methodist Church Circuit Stewards and the upper echelon at Methodist Church of Southern Africa,” explained Tersia.
A decision was finally reached between all the above parties that a specific area on the grounds can be earmarked and sold to Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services.
In his response to the good news, Van der Spuy said that he is proud of the partnership the Alberton Methodist Church has with Stepping Stone Hospice.
“My late wife was also a Hospice sister, which led to me having a better understanding and respect for the work they do. I strongly believe that it is time to celebrate them and work together as we as a church do the spiritual care, whilst they provide the physical and emotional care,” said Van der Spuy.
For Tersia, starting a Hospice was very challenging.
“I come from an engineering background and knew nothing of the world of palliative care. I was driven by my promise to my dying daughter, Vicky Bruce, whom I promised on her deathbed to start a Hospice so that no one would suffer the way she did. Stepping Stone began operations from my home on January 1, 2013.
“The group of enthusiastic women who worked as volunteers alongside me had no idea of the magnitude of the task ahead of us. We wove our way through learning about standard operating procedures (SOPs), writing SOPs, implementing systems, finding the right people for the right job, surviving without funding and getting HPCA affiliation and subsequently a practice number.
“We started with one nurse and a car. Today we have 70 people on board who are either staff, volunteers or board members.”
Stepping Stone Hospice will now start the process of finalising the sub-division of ground and all the legal requirements to register the ground in its name.
“I can’t wait for next year. We will embark on a campaign to finally build our brick-and-mortar unit and thereby ensure the continuation and betterment of Hospice services to our community,” said Tersia.
