Budi was five when he started complaining of headaches and blurred vision. He was also vomiting four to five times a day. After three weeks, when the symptoms did not abate, his mother decided to take him to the local clinic. The doctor diagnosed Budi with shortsightedness and prescribed him with spectacles. When the symptoms […]
Sani’s Story
In a 1-room house measuring 3 x 8 meters shared by 5 adults and 3 children, lay a little boy on a thin blanket on the floor. The room had no windows other than an open door that let in the hot dusty air, and sometimes a wandering rooster from the streets. For Sani, the […]
Ira’s Story
A home visit with Rachel House’s newest nurse – Dadan Approaching a group of houses in the late morning, there is evidence that a hard days’ work has already begun. On the ground, mung beans lay drying on a tarpaulin and the smell of fresh laundry hangs in the damp but hot air. As Dadan […]
Defeat Your Fears – March 8, 2014
Fear is the main source of superstition and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom, in the pursuit of truth as in the endeavour after a worthy manner of life. -Bertrand Russell On the morning of March 8th, the Maestro Hall (in Plaza Indonesia) was filled with […]
Karina’s Story
Karina is a three-year-old girl who has lost her mother and brother to HIV. Karina’s father is a gentle spirit, also suffering from HIV: now, they only have each other. The family moved to Jakarta from their village to earn a living. Karina and her father are living in a car park during the day […]
Sneak Preview: LITTLE STARS
Value Every LIfe is the first film in the Little Stars series that seeks to give voice to the need for children’s palliative care. It aims to ensure that every child living with life-limiting illness has access to palliative care, thereby relieving their suffering and that of their families. “We have the knowledge, the skills, […]
Dignity at the end by Tay Hsu Chern
An account of Palliative Care for Children project conducted by specialist volunteers from Singapore (organised by Singapore International Foundation) in Jakarta, Indonesia Training conducted by specialist volunteers from Singapore helped nurse Rina Wahyuni gain confidence in promoting palliative care for terminally ill children. Despite not knowing much about caring for terminally ill children, former paediatric […]
Miki’s story
There are many stories that are left untold in the daily travels of Rachel House’s nurses – stories tucked deep in their hearts that speak of great devastation. This is a story of a little boy’s brave journey. Miki was 6 months old when problems began. It started initially with a simple cough… that never […]
2012 – A year in Review
This has been a year of consolidation and a year of celebration. 2012 began with a new challenge as the team prepared itself for a change of leadership. This time, instead of looking externally the Board decided to promote someone who has been with Rachel House for 4 years. The entire team rose to the […]