A pharmacist at Stikland Hospital has been using her hobby, over the past few years, to keep psychiatric patients warm, in winter. Elsabe van der Merwe was a young woman when she developed a love for knitting and crocheting and now her hobby and passion help to spread warmth in the cold months.
Every winter, she knits and crochets warm items for patients at the psychiatric facility at Stikland Hospital. Staff members at the health facility are also blessed with warm beanies. Since 2018, she has made at least 300 of these.
“The need for wearable items to keep one warm is actually so huge, it almost feels as if a tsunami gobbles up my tiny contribution,” says van der Merwe.
She adds, “I like to believe that it does make a difference to the few who can have a little something.”
Bringing smiles to many faces:
Van der Merwe says the patients and staff in the wards are very appreciative of the winter warmers they receive. This brings a smile to her face.
“I’ve received some pictures with beaming smiles and waves, as well as written notes. This in turn warms my heart. It isn’t easy to describe the happiness it brings me to do something like this. Although it is a cliché, it is still true and very inspiring,” she adds.
Her career:
Elsabe’s career in healthcare started more than 40 years ago.
“I had an interruption in service when I was a young mother and worked part-time in a private hospital. Stikland Hospital is the tenth hospital of my career and I have been here since 2006. Hopefully, I can make a few more beanies before my planned retirement.”
How can you help:
Van Der Merwe says if people do something small for someone else, the world could be a better place.
She dreams: “If everyone does something small to enhance the next person’s life, imagine what a wonderful place our world would be.”
Van der Merwe will retire within the next 2 years.
Listen to the story in this news bulletin:
The 7 o’clock English news on Smile 90.4FM on Wednesday 20 July 2022. Podcast Player : echocast.fabrik.fm/zKVqynzBBY38Q4
