Saving Lives @Rahima Moosa Mother & Child Hospital

Hello again!

In our last report I mentioned how time has flown this year and it certainly continues to do so.  I was dismayed to already see Christmas decorations in the stores in October.  It seems simply weird to me to be celebrating Christmas earlier and earlier each year - but that said, isn't each day a day for genuine celebration and hope!!  

Working in the charitable healthcare space, especially when you are working with underprivileged children, their families and health professionals - each day is a day to be treasured, since life is certainly not something any of us can take for granted!  So my new mantra is: "Why wait for Christmas to celebrate?  Let's truly celebrate each day and support others so they can celebrate too despite what life is throwing at them and us, since together there is always hope.   Yes indeed, as a community we can thrive!"   That is real UBUNTU!.

And YES, Christmas did come early this year to Rahima Moosa Mother and Child hospital given your amazing support this year, especially over July bonus day.  Thank you to all of you that gave so generously!!  And thank you too for continuing to hold Footprints 4 Sam and our work at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital close to your hearts!  (Also, huge apologies for my rather delayed individual notes of thanks, please know that we are very grateful, as are all of our beneficiaries given your individual kindness and incredible generosity!).

I am also pleased to say that since we last checked in the renovations we were doing at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital for the Registrar rooms have been completed.  These beautiful spaces have brought some much needed rest and peace into the lives of these specialist young doctors who before this had little opportunity to recoup, as each day they face their long arduous shifts, especially night shifts.  

One of the Doctors approached me in the corridor recently and said to me:

"Melissa, you just can never know what a game changer these rest & study rooms are!" - So thank you all for helping us bring hope into sometimes very dark, bleak and long medical shifts.  

We have also done another national bucket run and buckets of food and toiletries were delivered to Rahima Moosa Hospital in October.  These buckets are jam-packed with essential items and bring much needed food and toiletries to families who have very little and who are fighting not only to maintain the health of their families but to feed them and to keep good hygiene practices going despite their poor social economic circumstances. We have also done much needed training on Tracheostomy care and best practice around traches and the doctors and nurses were grateful for this knowledge and training which continues to support their care of patients and supports improved patient outcomes.

You all made this possible and as we approach #GivingTuesday, please remember the important work we are doing as we continue to fundraise to renovate the neonatal ICU.  Next year the hospital celebrates her 80th birthday and we trust that with all of our donors on board we will finally realise our dream of breaking ground next year and renovating this much needed facility.

A very Merry Christmas to you ALL!  Let's celebrate now for all the many blessings that surround us!

Much love from the Footprints 4 Sam Team,

Melissa

I don’t know about you, but this year seems to be flying by.   They say as you get older time speeds up and that certainly seems to be the case for everything we do at the Footprints 4 Sam Trust.  In October this year the Footprints 4 Sam Trust will be celebrating 5 years, half a decade of growth that has been enabled by our incredible donors.  As Sam’s mother it helps me to think of October, because July is a tough month for us, since our precious son, Sam, the very reason for the Footprints 4 Sam Trust, died on 22 July 2016.  Six years ago, this year – almost impossible to believe.  So yes, time speeds up as you get older, but grief never gets old it just shifts and changes.  An important part of that shift and what makes our grief a little easier to carry is all of you and the legacy of Sam that lives on through you and your donations which continue to both change and save young lives every day.  Currently, in memory of Sam’s tragic passing, we continue to grow our various Trust initiatives and central to that is our work at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child hospital.  Our Beautiful Memories NICU project at this key hospital continues to gain momentum.  As I write this, we are renovating two registrar rooms and a bathroom adjacent to the main neonatal space that we are still hard at work fundraising for.  These newly renovated spaces will enable the health professionals to rest and recuperate during their long work shifts, thereby ensuring that the patients are seen by a well-rested team of doctors.  We are convinced this will ultimately also ensure better patient care.  

We are now firmly in bonus month together with GlobalGiving and on 20 July 2022, lets join together to really make Sam’s legacy count.  This year on 20 July, from 09h00 EDT till 23:59 EDT GlobalGiving is matching funds until the $400 000 USD GlobalGiving matching fund pot is finished.

-       Donations of $100 - $499 USD will be matched at 30%

-       Donations of $500 - $749 USD will be matched at 40%

-       Donations of $750 - $1000 USD will be matched at 50%

Each charity can be awarded a maximum of $3000 USD in matching funds that day and don’t forget that GlobalGiving is a registered non-profit charity in the United States, England, and Wales.  Donations made by eligible donors in the United States can be claimed as tax deductible contributions on United States tax returns.  Donations made by eligible donors in the United Kingdom can claim Gift Aid (an extra 25% added to eligible donations by the UK Government when they donate in GBP.)

Join us in continuing to make a meaningful difference.  Thank you as always – without you, we are simply a name, but with you – we are a force for change and meaning for so many young lives!

Links:

• NICU Executive Project Summary - Donate & Save Lives!

• F4S_Kangaroo_Wall_outside_2770x2500_FA.pdf (PDF)