For some, the holidays are about spending time with family – and for those living in palliative care, those precious holiday moments this year could be their last.
And so, for the past 20 years, volunteers at the Montreal General Hospital have been making sure those last moments are memorable.
Anita Mountjoy has spent ten years helping patients in palliative care get ready for Christmas, making it a little easier on patients and their families.
“They light up, those that are perhaps sleeping and drowsy and they see all these gifts,” she said.
Mountjoy and other volunteers spend the day taping boxes and tying bows...
“We think that the last thing on their mind is Christmas shopping, so we want to take that over for them and give them one less thing to think about,” said volunteer Diana Henry.
A cart is packed with presents for every age, all donated throughout the year. Volunteers visit each of the 15 rooms, letting patients choose however many gifts they want wrapped and given to their families.
Palliative care patient Antoun Chemali has six grandchildren.
“We'll take the presents. It's very sweet,” he said.
For most of the patients, not only will this be their last Christmas, many won't be able to spend it at home with their loved ones.
Some say the extra effort means a lot.
“They are fantastic, beautiful people, angels,” said patient George Jeevaratnam.
The program started more than two decades ago and touched many people along the way, said MUHC palliative care nurse manager Rosemary O’Grady.
“I know someone who actually had a family member die in palliative care about 15 years ago and she still holds on to that gift,” she said.
