Artikel van Stoma Ilco Belgium

Kortrijk : Partners for Partners

At our member meeting of June, with theme dementia, it was the perfect occasion for the partners to have a nice gathering.

During the many talks, we came to the idea, for the occasion of the 30-year existence of our association, to give a personal surprise to our founder-chairperson Sister Brigitte.

But the problem was in how to organize such a surprise without her knowing of it.

Anyway, Johnny organised everything very well and everybody gave a little contribution as appreciation for her effort and hard work.

After a long while, our coffee chat finally came to an end and everybody became a little impatient, Sister Brigitte in particular, because when all the partners come together, we always continue chatting and always lose track of time.

However, we came to a fine result and we had a very nice party. Several anecdotes were discovered of the partners and the many thoughts and opinions about Sister Brigitte arose .

What gave me a great satisfaction and encouragement for the organisation of the partners, were the words of Christine (widow of the chairman Firmin, who has left us way too early) :

“It is SO nice what you do for the partners. In my days, this all did not exist and I was alone to face all the problems. Every since the start of the Partners, I always look for the articles of the partners in the Ostomy-News, because it is new and of great importance for me. Our members have been pampered for 30 years by Sister Brigitte and now the partners are also taken into consideration.”

There is no feeling which could be stronger and more fulfilling than the feeling that you get for meaning something for other people.

This is a quote out of the book of Geert Messiaen – “Unfinished Symphony”

Geert is the co-founder and secretary of our society OK – Ontmoeting & Ontspanning Kanker (Meeting & Recreation Cancer), where Johnny represents the self-aid group Stoma Ilco vzw and I represent the Partners within the self-aid groups.

Pierrette

Stoma Ilco Belgium

Geert Messiaen