Full Circle Digital Magazine August 2013 | Page 76
FULL
CIRCLE
COMMUNITY
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HEARTS
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HANDS
The Mother of all Hugs
“the Mega-hug is the Mother of all Hugs, because it is the one hug that is always available, unconditional and never lets you go unless you choose to shrug it off”
by Meg Stevens
My darling mom needed warmth and company during her time in Grahamstown Hospice after her stroke, which had paralysed her left side. When I found the fabulous new fabric called coral fleece, I realised that all I needed to do was come up with a simple design for a shoulder wrap that would easily settle around her, whilst still allowing her to manage it on her own - with one hand!
T he Mega-hug was born out of love and care for a loved one – my mom!
one, a “Mega-hug Cares” fleece wrap is placed in a collection basket for one of our chosen care-facilities which is duly handed over within a week of collection. My Mega-hugs can now be shared! The idea of the “Mega-hug Cares” Package grew from the time my sister and I were taking care of my mom in hospice. We were both disturbed by the lack of visitors to many of the other patients. It was this memory that drove my need to figure out a sustainable means of sharing Mega-hugs with those in need. After much searching, we can now give special thanks to the Creative Design Company of Cape Town for becoming partners in our dream by giving us access to their fleece overruns to create the “Mega-hug Cares” wraps, and thereby making the “Mega-hug Cares” Package a reality. Don’t the folk who have lost the care or support of their families and friends, still need the same comfort we are offering our own loved ones when we purchase our Mega-hugs? The social workers of the selected Care facilities or support groups will nominate the recipients under their care, who will receive the “Cares Packages” and extend the gesture of care from the donor by placing the Mega-hug around the recipient’s shoulders in a hug. The recipients’ identities are protected for obvious reasons. Understandably, recipients often insist on writing “thank you” notes. We happily direct the notes to you, if you leave your contact details with us.
It worked. It would keep her warm yet left her lower arms clear to move freely for any chosen activity or to open easily when too hot. The resulting wrap proved a winner. The comfort, warmth and “company” it gave were incredibly gra ??????$???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$????????????$??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????q??????????t????????????????????Q?????????????????????????q???5????????????5???????????!????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????t??Q??????????????????????????????????????5???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????5???????????5?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????5???????????????????????????=??5????????????????????????????????????q5????
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