"I've been here a lot and I think it's great that someone is always there for me. They do crafts here and there's a lot going on," says eleven-year-old Bercem about her stay at the Bethel Children's and Youth Hospice. "I was quite scared of the children's hospice at first," recalls her mum Berivan Is. "I thought it was like a clinic and it was about dying. But it's not like that at all. It's about living. There's a lot of laughter here. And it's nice to get to know the other parents."
"My Bodo!" says 34-year-old Arnoldas Lindsius, cuddling his dog. There is so much love in his gaze. The dog gives him support and is very welcome to join him at weekends at the Bethel facility for people with complex disabilities. "An animal like this is good for the soul and promotes independence," says Anastasia Vogel, a curative education nurse.
"Thanks to help from Bethel, I am so much freer." Dominik Schindelar is finally living without epileptic seizures. After years of unsuccessful treatment in his home country, he decided to undergo an examination and then a surgical procedure in Bethel. "At some point, I simply decided that I wanted to have brain surgery. I am very grateful to Bethel and Professor Bien."
For Frank Bartelniewöhner – a member of the inclusive choir in Bethel – one thing is certain: "Singing is my passion." Frank Bartelniewöhner is used to impressing with his talents – he has learnt to overcome stage fright using breathing exercises. "Music is in my blood," he reveals, "but the range of voices only comes together when singing in the choir."
"The more unwell Edina became, the more I relied on Bethel," says her mother Eva Omerbasic. "The doctors there know how to treat disabled children. They are all very committed and see her as normal. And no matter how bad she got, the doctors never gave up on her and fought for her."
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