As Father's Day approaches, St Joseph's Home for Chronically Ill Children is paying tribute to the men whose compassion and generosity are changing lives in ways that words can barely capture, Cape town Etc reports.
Quoting the heartfelt words of Anne Geddes, 'Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad,' the St Joseph's community is expressing deep gratitude to the father figures within its circle of donors and supporters. In a country where many children grow up without consistent paternal figures, the presence of men who give, serve, and care has a lasting and healing impact.
Support from donors has allowed children facing serious health challenges a chance to walk again, regain speech, play, and recover with dignity. One of these children is Hayden, a gentle seven-year-old boy from the Overberg region, who was admitted to St Joseph's in March after being diagnosed with TB meningitis. Now battling related complications, including right-sided hemiplegia, Hayden relies entirely on the nursing team for his daily needs.
Because of the distance from home, Hayden's family can't visit often. He often calls out softly for his mother and finds comfort in quiet spaces and gentle voices. Despite being unable to eat or drink on his own, and requiring all nutrition through a nasogastric tube, Hayden is surrounded by caregivers who tend to him with patience, compassion, and dignity.
His story is one of many that reflect the critical work being done behind the walls of St Joseph's, work made possible through the generosity of supporters.