Terminally ill patient's final wish to drink a beer at Adelaide Oval granted through new program
Terminally ill Port Adelaide fan 55-year-old Simon Baraniec was granted his final wish of enjoying a beer and a pie at Adelaide Oval.
The heartwarming moment was made possible by Ambulance Wish, a newly launched program in South Australia that aims to fulfil the final wishes of individuals receiving palliative care.
Baraniec, who was diagnosed with terminal spine cancer in November, is unable to leave his hospital bed, so his bed was taken with him to the oval, where he was surrounded by loved ones.
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Terminally ill Port Adelaide fan 55-year-old Simon Baraniec was granted his final wish of enjoying a beer and a pie at Adelaide Oval today. Nine
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A special message on the scoreboard added to the significance of the occasion.
"I haven't had a beer in a year, so this one isn't going down too bad," Baraniec said.
He described the day as "probably the best day that I have had... by far."
Ambulance Wish launched in South Australia today, giving people receiving palliative care the chance to fulfil a wish in the final months of their lives.
"I can't believe I was the first one to be able to do it .. I'm just awestruck," Baraniec said.
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Baraniec, who was diagnosed with terminal spine cancer in November, is unable to leave his hospital bed, so today his bed was taken with him to the oval, where he was surrounded by loved ones. Nine
The government will put $250,000 towards the program over two and a half years.
"Death is a part of life and it's important that we make sure every death can be as good as it can be.. and that's the important role that palliative care plays throughout our state," SA Health Minister Chris Picton said.
The program will aim to grant over 100 wishes annually.
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Palliative Care SA, the organisation behind the program, encourages community involvement, including corporate partnerships and individual sponsorships, with an average wish costing around $2000.
"There's a lot of things that we just do every day that we don't think about, but when you are at the end of life, these things make a huge difference to people," Palliative Care SA's Shyla Mills said.
This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.
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