Port of call with Riva Schoeman and the Centurion Hospice

Who are we? Why are we here? Where are we going after death? Theologists, priests, scientists and philosophers have endeavoured to answer these age-old questions but find no definite answers. The biggest question however: is there life after death? Christians believe that our earthly bodies return to dust, but our eternal soul either go to heaven or hell. Paradise or everlasting flames. What lies between death and judgement day? Ancient Hindu scriptures refer to the atman (soul) being reborn many times, a belief that is embraced by many metaphysical scientists and even some Christians – past life regression. Dr. Michael Newton, a well-known hypnotherapist and psychologists believe that our souls go to purgatory where the soul is cleansed. Those souls who have been associated with evil are taken to special centres which some people call  intensive care units. The energy is altered to make it whole again. Depending upon the nature of their transgressions, these souls could quickly returned to earth. They might well choose to serve as the victims of other’s evil acts in the next life.

Some people just believe that our bodies will return to dust and that there is no eternity.

We have three very special quests in studio today. Reverend Francois Esterhuizen is from the NG Church Raslouw in Wierda Park and he dig deeply into the heart of the eternity, paradise and the land of the lost souls. Izak du Plessis used to be a reverend turned journalist, writer, TV-presenter, YouTube-news analyst, and philosopher. He is not an atheist – just a non-believer and then our telephonic quest is dr, Raj Kopalana, a priest at .......... and medical doctor. Welcome and maybe we will find a few answers today.

Funerals have become a significant event in South African's lives. When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced earlier this month that no more than 50 people are allowed to attend a funeral service (and with no after-tears parties to be allowed),  religious and other pressure groups were up in arms. Yes, funerals are events – big events and can cost families thousands to host. The more people to mourn the dead at a funeral service, the more glorious for the departed soul.

South Africa has different cultures, and every culture perceives death and funerals differently. Previously (that was before Covid-19) and way before funeral trends from America hit South Africa, the Afrikaans speaking population has mourn in a very sombre manner. Firstly, a church service with a reverend preaching as if it was a Sunday morning sermon, then songs from either the Psalms or Hymns. Coffin carriers. Then to the grave and then with the after-party enjoying cucumber and egg sandwiches in the church hall.

That was then. Now funerals or memorial services are like weddings – and the more unique, the better.  Two prominent Pretorians that we know of, died around two years ago and their funerals cost thousands. The families hired event organisers, and more than 1000 people attended both events. Funerals singers, champagne, speeches, sushi and a funeral cake (even dancers) were on the menus.

The African culture has long established the culture of the after-tears party. Parties that sometimes cost up to R200 000 or more.

Today, our telephonic guests are Louise Nel, listen to this, an esteemed funeral organiser from Bloemfontein and Ingrid Tebeila, a traditional healer. They are going to enlighten us about myths surrounding funerals, rites and of course, more alternative funerals. And then, our in-studio guest is Melanie Robbins from Centurion Hospice who will tell us about Centurion Hospice's new (memorial service) endeavours. Welcome.

The ancient Greeks believed that Hermes, the messenger of the gods r, was a spirit guide. His role was to escort souls into the afterlife. But it was not just the Greeks who believed that a being - whether it was the archangel Michael, a goddess or a deceased family member – had to assist them while making the transition from living to dying, modern human beings don't want to die alone. Therefore, terminally ill patients often recruit a death doula to guide them spiritually or prepare them for what they do not understand – the world beyond.

Mothers, who have had a miscarriage or a stillbirth, will enlist the services of a bereavement doula. The word Doula is derived from Greek  and means "women who serve." In the studio today, we have two extraordinary women. Nicci Coertze is a well-known bereavement doula and Vivienne Katz, a death doula who assists people in making the transition from their physical body into the next realm. She is also from Doula Givers South Africa.

Welcome, Nicci and Vivienne and thank you for educating us about the role of doulas in South Africa.

In the last episode, dr. Petrus Moolman helped us to understand the ageing process and how to live a meaningful life until the end. But that aside, he is an ordinary man with an extraordinary love story. His wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2007.  She died six years later. He was her caregiver, a role that does not come naturally for a man. After her death, he made it his life mission to understand Alzheimer’s and dementia. Welcome again, dr. Moolman and as usually our guest Philip Aucamp, a social worker at Centurion Hospice.

Dr. Petrus Moolman is a well-known author, theologists and gerontologist. He believes in meaningful ageing, and for that reason, he pursued a doctoral degree at the age of 72 and graduated at the age of 76. He is almost 80 years old and still lives a meaningful life. He mastered the cello; he always attends to the spiritual and emotional needs of the elderly. And last year he wrote a highly recommended book Meaning full ageing – a book that resulted from his doctoral studies.

The day-to-day running of a Hospice.

It requires an incredibly special person to work at a hospice. Hospice’s are often misnomer as a “place that kills you” but that is not what a hospice is. A hospice is in fact, a place where you can live your last days with dignity and humanity. Patients who are admitted to either the home-based care programme or the IPU are often close to the end of their lives.

The day-to-day running of a hospice is shrouded in mystery for many, and therefore there are many misconceptions. That is why, today I will be talking to experts in this field, in order to give us some clarity on what exactly it is that hospice offers a patient and their family in a time in which they really need support.

A recent survey conducted by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) found that nearly half of the 1 214 respondents felt that financial stress and pressure were one of the main challenges during the lockdown. Adding to this, over half of respondents cited anxiety and panic as a major challenge.

In short, the pandemic did not only cause the loss of lives, but it also had a tremendous impact on the mental well-being of South Africans.

In studio today is Elize Thirion, a psychologist from Centurion and Philip Aucamp, a social worker at the Centurion Hospice. Our telephonic guest is the singer and writer Tobi Jooste who wrote a motivational book about the emotional impact of the pandemic on people.

Die bekende Afrikaanse krimi-skrywer Madelein Rust is op 20 Januarie vanjaar met beenkanker gediagnoseer - dit nadat sy vier jaar gelede "skoon" verklaar is. "Ek het gedog ek is klaar met kanker," het die brawe vrou aan Riva Schoeman gesê.  Luister na die harthoerende dog postitiewe onderhoud. Dit is 'n vrou - al het die dokter haar net 'n paar maande gegee het het om te leef - wat steeds sê "kanker schmanker." 

Riva Shoeman says: “The interview I had with the Prinsloo family not only pulled at my heartstrings, it taught me valuable lessons.  I have the utmost respect for the staff at Centurion Hospice, may we all learn from them, mostly, what it means to be truly caring and to have real compassion. It is an enormous privilege to be a part of this amazing project. I look forward with great anticipation to the next interviews. You will not regret tuning in for these podcasts. Raw emotion, the honest truth and, as I mentioned, valuable lessons are just some of the things you can expect. Do not miss a single podcast. Thank you, Centurion Hospice. “

Die Centurion Hospice, in samewerking met NB-Uitgewers, het weer aanlyn kragte saamgesnoer om ouers en tieners bewus te maak van nuwe Afrikaanse jeugverhale en volwasse romans wat die jaar op die winkelrakke verskyn het.

Die Centurion Hospice het in Junie vanjaar hande met NB-Uigewers gevat en unieke aanlynleer- en leeservarings vir kinders gebied. Bekende sangers soos ander andere Jak de Priester en Riaan Grobler het voorlesings uit onder meer Liewe Heksie en Pippie Langkous gedoen.

Dit was die eerste keer dat ‘n Hospice in Suid-Afrika so ‘n tipe aanlynleeservaring aangebied het.

Die formaat van die aanlynleeservarings het ‘n bietjie verander, maar dit gaan dieselfde opvoedkundige- en vermaaklikheidswaarde as die vorige boekvoorlesings hê, sê Yolanda Barnard-Lemmer, die skakelbeampte van die Centurion Hospice.

Barnard-Lemmer voer onderhoudende en vermaaklike onderhoude met die skrywers en ‘n bekende persoonlikheid (hetsy dit ‘n hoërskool se hoofdogter is of ‘n sanger) gaan die boekvoorlesings waarneem.

William Oosthuizen, die skrywer van die jeugverhaal Die wêreld volgens Wim Vermaak, het eerste onder die loep gekom. “Dit was baie interessant om terugvoer op die boek te kry en ek hoop mense geniet die boek soveel as wat hy dit geniet het om dit te skryf.”

Die bekende radiopersoonlikheid, Riva Schoeman, het die boekvoorlesing behartig. “Dit is ‘n heerlike storie en skreeusnaaks. Ek het dit baie geniet om deel te wees van die ervaring,” sê sy.

“Tydens die inperking het mense opnuut besef om te lees is lewe en NB-Uitgewers deel graag hul skrywers se stories om lewens te verryk,” sê Henk Viljoen, streekverkoopbestuurder van NB-skole.

Volgens Barnard-Lemmer is daar ‘n tweeledige doel met die skrywersonderhoude en -voorlesings: “Ons wil eerstens die publiek (veral die jeug) bekendstel aan al die wonderlike nuwe titels wat op die rakke verskyn, en ook om hulle aan te moedig om die Centurion Hospice te ondersteun, en uit te reik na ons pasiënte deur middel van boekvoorlesings, besoeke en so meer.”

Die eerste onderhoud en voorlesing word die komende Maandag op die Centurion Hospice se Facebook-blad geplaas. Ons gaan deur die loop van die volgende paar maande verskillende boeke (jeug- en volwasse romans) bespreek en onderhoude met die skrywers voer. Dit gaan om die beurt in Engels en Afrikaans verskyn.