A frantic phone call to Thembalami Care Centre from a Western Cape resident who was unable to reach her 70-year-old brother ended with tragedy averted when he was found unresponsive in his home.
In desperation, Sharon Hindle called Thembalami on Sunday, August 9, after repeatedly failing to reach her brother, Hyran Cook, who lives in Lombardy East, Johannesburg. Knowing Thembalami was situated near his home, she hoped staff might be able to help.
She was put through to Sister Kholofelo Mathye. When Sharon explained that her brother had recently undergone hip surgery and that he lived alone, Kholofelo immediately asked Thembalami’s security team to investigate.
Hyran’s neighbour, Robbie Carver, was quick to assist when contacted by security and summoned an ambulance when Hyran was found unresponsive in his home. According to Sharon, paramedics said Hyran was in a diabetic coma, and they stabilised him at the scene.
“Sr Kholo needs to be acknowledged for her active listening,” says Sharon. “Had she not listened carefully to what I was saying and understood the urgency of the situation, I don’t know what would have happened.
“Once Hyran was stable, his amazing neighbour, Robbie, stepped up and kept a watchful eye on him until I arrived,” says Sharon.
She flew to Johannesburg and arranged for Hyran to be admitted to Thembalami’s recuperative care unit.
New lease on life
Ten days later, on August 21, Hyran was well enough to return home after regaining his strength.
“The TLC he received was amazing,” says Sharon. “He has been given a new lease on life.”
During his stay, he received physiotherapy to assist with his mobility and, according to Thembalami social worker Lara Swanepoel, he made excellent progress.
“When he went home, he was able to walk with the assistance of a walker. His medication was reviewed, his health was stabilised and he was provided with healthy, nutritious meals to help rebuild his strength.
“He told us that he feels significantly better after his stay at Thembalami,” says Lara
“This story is a wonderful example of how a simple phone call, a caring response and effective teamwork can make an enormous difference. Sister Kholofelo did not hesitate to help a distressed family member, even though Mr Cook was not a resident of Thembalami. Through the quick actions of the nursing and security teams, a potentially tragic situation was identified and emergency assistance was provided in time.”
Sharon says Thembalami’s nursing services manager, Violet Ngobeni; its deputy manager, Elize Raath; Lara and Kholofelo were amazing.
“Sincere thanks for being so kind and accommodating when I arrived at your door in a panic. It seems that 10 days of care have made the world of difference to Hyran, physically and mentally.
“Thembalami has indeed been ‘a place of hope’ – fittingly, its name means ‘My hope’. As a team, they lived up to their mission statement of ‘assist, alleviate, accompany’ – all with warm hearts and lovely humour! They showed what true community care looks like.”
