'Living Saint' Ugandan Neonatal Nurse to Retire After 41 Years

Geraldine Bukirwa, Neonatal Nurse at The Grange University Hospital, will retire this week after working for 41 years as a midwife and neonatal nurse – but she has no plans to slow down.

Having qualified in 1983, Geraldine has spent decades caring for the smallest patients and their families at different neonatal units across England and Wales and has a wealth of neonatal surgical experience. Now, after 13 years as a much-loved colleague at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), she will retire at the age of 74 to focus on charity work in her native home of Uganda

A number of her colleagues have paid tribute to hard-working Geraldine and her modest nature.

Clare Payne, Senior Nurse for Neonatal Services at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said:

“I think I speak for everyone in NICU when I say that Geraldine is a highly valued team member and team player and we can't imagine ever being without her. Any parents would be lucky to have her looking after their baby and likewise the baby also - as she has such a lovely manner with them. She truly cares about the many babies and families she has nursed over the years and we will miss her beyond words.”

Clare Smallbone, Neonatal Intensive Care Sister at The Grange University Hospital, said:

“NICU can be a really intense, highly stressful environment, but Geraldine has a wealth of neonatal nursing experience behind her, which is so invaluable. She can knock out a long run of night shifts like nobody’s business and never appears tired and is always so patient. Geraldine really puts us all to shame with her energy and enthusiasm. Both staff and parents alike are so fond of her - she’s an amazing example that we all look up to and aspire to be like.”

Alongside her fulltime work as a NICU nurse, Geraldine has also gone above and beyond to support her communities back home in Uganda throughout her career. In her retirement, she plans to continue with her voluntary work.

Clare Smallbone continued: “To us, she is a living saint for everything she does to help people back home in Uganda. She doesn’t get a break – she helps everyone in any way she is able, from young, to elderly and individuals with medical conditions. She ships over clothes to the community that she collects herself and is keen to support these individuals with education.”

Chelsey Jones, Neonatal Nurse at The Grange University Hospital, said:

“Our unit will not be the same without her but I know as a team, we are so grateful that we have had the pleasure of working alongside her for the past 13 years as a colleague, and, more importantly, a treasured and loyal friend. The positive difference she has made over the 41 years of her career to the lives of the babies/patients and families she has cared for will last forever.”

As a surprise leaving gift to Geraldine and in tribute to her selfless, caring nature, Chelsey and her colleagues have set up a fundraising page to collect donations to help Geraldine with her charity work. The funds will go towards shipping the number of items and materials that Geraldine has collected to Uganda, where she plans to teach the younger population to sew so that they can make their own clothes with the materials. When Geraldine gets presented this money, she will definitely be in shock but very grateful, as it will aid her to fulfil her passion to help others in need.

Anyone wishing to donate to Geraldine’s GoFundMe page can do so via the following link: Fundraiser by Chelsey Jones : Surprise fundraising for Geraldine’s charity work (gofundme.com)