Critically ill children, teens and loved ones gathered for hospice Christmas party at SCN terminal

A not everyday event took place in the airport terminal: Around 100 seriously ill children and young people from the Saar Children's Hospice and Palliative Team, together with their parents and relatives, met for their Christmas party at the invitation of airport CEO Thomas Schuck.

The contacts had already begun two years ago, but in the end the celebration had to be postponed twice due to the pandemic. Hospice director Gertrud Kiefer was pleased and confident that such important gatherings would again be held regularly in the future.

In hospice work, seriously ill children and their needs are the focus of efforts. The work also includes care for the families and, last but not least, grief counseling. It is about not being alone when dying, having familiar people around you and, if possible, being able to remain at home in familiar surroundings. For children and young people in particular, this process can take many years.

The work of the Children's Hospice and Palliative Team Saar is unique: 22 full-time staff, including three physicians and 18 other specially trained professionals, care for about 175 critically ill and other immediately terminally ill young patients. Care is provided on an outpatient basis from the base in Merchweiler throughout the Saarland, and occasionally in neighboring Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition, there are about 80 volunteers who accompany the families free of charge.

The Christmas get-together focused on get-togethers, entertainment and sharing. Choral music and clown magician provided joyful entertainment, plus pastries, cakes and other delicacies. Santa Claus generously distributed gifts and also patiently stood by for a souvenir photo. In addition, the airport fire department vehicle and the police car met with great approval; a sniffer dog demonstrated how dangerous objects are found in airport operations.

For those involved, at any rate, the celebration was a welcome occasion to be able to forget the often difficult daily routine for an afternoon. And for Saarbrücken Airport, it will be a pleasure to be able to help in the future as well.