Mother's day, 8th May

Where will your household’s “Mum” be this Mother’s Day?


Ours is Rhonda. She is a sixty three year old registered nurse. Her Mother’s day will begin at 5am when she gets out of bed and ready to go to work.

Her work is in a ward for older people – 55 years + - who not only have physical or surgical problems but also ALL of them suffer from psychiatric illness. Mostly this is degenerative ageing illness such as senile dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, or, other such diseases of the aged. Some suffer chronic psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia, bi-polar disease or sexually acquired chronic illnesses.

There complex illness pathology must be treated holistically. From basic activities of daily living, such as bathing, showering, personal hygiene, dressing, preparing meals must also be catered for by the nursing staff as well as treating their underlying medical and surgical conditions.

Rhonda is up at 5am, drives an hour to the hospital at which she works and with two other nurses she cares for up to twenty patients. She should finish at 3.430 pm, however, she is lucky if she can get away by 4.30 pm and then has to battle the ‘peak hour’ travel home. Rhonda usually arrives home at 5.15 pm. Myself and Denny-the-dog are waiting for her with a hot coffee ready for her to sip on and relax with us while we discuss our various days.

I hope you appreciate the little present I could afford to buy for you as an expression of my gratitude.

Happy Mother’s Day Rhonda, we love you!