Throughout their life cycle, they contribute to their environment, supporting the soil as they grow and enriching it again when they eventually decompose. At Bloemfontein’s Sunflower Children’s Hospice, some children whose lives are marked by different seasons are blossoming into recovery and new beginnings, while others face the difficult reality of life-threatening illnesses.

Behind the hospice’s doors are stories of abandonment, resilience, extraordinary love and loss. Yet, regardless of how long they stay or what their futures hold, the nurses and caregivers are determined to ensure every child experiences love, protection and dignity.

Professional nurse Melinda Muller said the hospice accommodates twelve to thirteen children at a time, from birth to the age of thirteen, with conditions ranging from kidney and heart failure to tuberculosis, cancer and severe malnutrition.

Sunflower hospice’s real life sunflowers playing in their garden. Photos: Ditebogo Molefi (edited with AI)

However, hospice care does not always mean end-of-life care. Some children recover sufficiently to return to their families or move to places of safety after completing treatment. Muller says: “We admitted a child who was in a coma because he had meningitis that affected his brain. He was in a coma for one year, but eventually woke up and went home to his family again.”

Among the children receiving care is a little girl affectionately known as their miracle baby, who depends on permanent oxygen. Her mother cannot afford the electricity needed to operate her oxygen equipment at home, making the hospice a place where her daughter can receive the support she needs.

Despite these financial challenges, her mother remains actively involved, regularly visiting and even helping care for the other children. Miller described her as one of the best mothers at the hospice.

Not every child has the same support system. Some arrive after being abandoned at birth or experiencing neglect, requiring the hospice to provide medical care while arrangements are made to find them a safe home.

A remembrance wall inside the hospice serves as a reminder of the children who have passed away, as well as the emotional journeys shared by the nurses who cared for them.

The support extends beyond the hospice through its community programme, which currently reaches approximately 340 children in Bloemfontein and surrounding communities. Community programme representative Olga Mulaswe said their work includes home visits, medical follow-ups, bereavement support and helping families access education, birth certificates, food parcels and clothing.

As the festive season approaches, both Muller and Mulaswe appealed to the public for assistance, particularly financial contributions to keep the hospice operating around the clock.

Food, toiletries, cleaning products, stationery and second-hand clothing are also welcome, with proceeds from the hospice’s second-hand shop helping support its operations.

Like the sunflowers they are named after, these children each have a story worth nurturing. And while not every story has the same ending, Sunflower Children’s Hospice is determined to ensure every child has the opportunity to experience the warmth, care and colour of childhood. 

OFM News/Ditebogo Molefi sm

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