Using scent to heal others

Abigail Malan, married to Selwyn, expressed herself artistically by making handcrafted jewellery to find healing and put bread on the table.

This February, the 49-year-old ended up in Life Brackenview Hospital for depression and severe anxiety because her mental health was fragile.

“On my own, I looked after my parents and my bed-ridden husband full-time since 2018. I also started my small business after I stopped working. It kept us afloat as I became my husband’s caregiver. I approached many funeral homes with my idea, but only Mosaic Funeral Home allowed me to provide them with the keyrings I make,” she explained.

Malan said she could not thank Mosaic Funeral Homes enough for the chance to work with them and their support over the last four years.

Last August, her father died, and she could not take the time to mourn because she had to be there for her family, especially her husband, who relapsed from her father’s death.

“At the end of this February, my husband went into hospice for pain management, which helped him.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for his sickness and the MS he has – secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. This means every time he relapses, he never goes back to what he was like before,” Malan said.

She visited him daily, and with all the stress and her father’s passing, she found herself in Brackenview Hospital. She was there for three weeks and learnt how to deal with her anxiety and depression.

“There are many ways to help with one’s anxiety and depression, but there was one way that really helped me, and I want to help others who also suffer from anxiety and depression. We made a special bracelet with special beads you can put essential oils on, and you can smell the oil when you feel anxious,” she said.

She used to do beading as a hobby and now makes bracelets to help others cope with their anxiety.