about us
Our Story
Helping Today
Helping Tommorow
At Paedspal, we believe every child facing a life-limiting or life-threatening illness deserves specialised care, unwavering compassion, and the opportunity to experience life with dignity and comfort. Our journey began with a shared vision among pediatric palliative care specialists who recognised the urgent need for dedicated support services for children
and their families. Today, we proudly offer holistic palliative care throughout Cape Town, South Africa, and beyond.
What is Paediatric Palliative Care?
In Simple Terms
Our Mission
Our mission is to advocate for and facilitate the integration of paediatric palliative care into the South African healthcare system for children experiencing serious health related suffering. We achieve this by providing specialist clinical services, education, and research, while strengthening health systems in a sustainable and culturally sensitive manner that meets the needs of children, their families, and communities.
Our Vision
To ensure all children facing serious
health challenges experience the
highest quality of life possible, with
their families receiving the support
they need and healthcare providers
empowered to deliver exceptional
palliative care.
Why Our Work Matters
Across South Africa, thousands of children face life-limiting and life-threatening conditions—from
congenital disorders and paediatric cancers to complications related to TB and HIV/AIDS. Despite the
incredible resilience of these children and their families, a significant care gap remains.
Management Team
Dr. Michelle Meiring
CEO & Paediatrician
Adelah Ederies
Chief Operating Officer
Clinical team
Dr Tracey Nupen
Paediatrician
Dr Lyndal Gibbs
Paediatrician
Dr Teresa Jennings
Medical Officer
Sister Manda Kanka
Professional Nurse
Fiona McLennan
Aromatherapist
Dianne Burger
Family Counsellor
Crystal Kleinhans
Social Worker
Nompiyakhe Mfanta
Social Auxiliary Worker
Mari Stevens
Music Therapist
Terika Steenkamp
Social Worker
Shetil Nana
Locum Paediatrician
Lesley Palmer
Creative Arts Therapist
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF
Robertha Davids
Senior Office Administrator
Wendy Jordan
Patient Administrator
Leandré Davids
Junior Office Administrator
Meet The board
Thabo Hermanus
Chairman
Thabo is the COO for Experian Africa, bringing over 20 years of experience in the Credit Industry, following an early start in Packaging. A UCT BCom graduate with majors in Accounting and Economics, he’s held several financial roles before moving into commercial operations. Thabo thrives on working with people and leading through delivery, always asking, “What’s the art of the possible?” Outside of work, he’s a husband, father of two, and an avid traveller—with one dream still pending: seeing Liverpool win the Premier League live at Anfield.
Scott Hindmarsh
Treasurer
Scott is a qualified Chartered Accountant with a background in investment banking in London. He moved to Cape Town in 2001 to enter the self-storage property game and has since managed several entrepreneurial ventures and property projects, including new builds and renovations. Outside of work, he’s into mountain biking, paddling, 4×4 adventures, dabbling in paragliding, and cattle farming. He’s married with two kids.
Dr. Michelle Mering
Board Member (Ex Officio)
Dr Michelle Meiring is a leading voice in paediatric palliative care with over 20 years’ experience. She is the founder and CEO of Paedspal, where she works part-time, and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Paediatric Palliative Care at UCT.
Michelle has presented at major local and international conferences and was one of four editors of the latest Oxford Textbook of Palliative Care for Children. A passionate advocate since her early days in paediatric HIV care, she chairs PatchSA and contributes to policy development at both provincial and national levels.
Adelah Ederies
Board Secretary (Ex Officio)
Adelah Ederies (BComm) brings over a decade of corporate HR experience to Paedspal. She joined in 2016 to set up our HR, admin, and financial systems, and now serves as our Chief Operating Officer. Adelah oversees daily operations, ensures strong governance, and manages financial and HR processes. She also acts as Board Secretary. Thoughtful and steady, Adelah leads with heart and purpose—even when the job isn’t easy.
Mariaan Mckenzie
Board Member
Mariaan began her career in finance and now works in the food and beverage industry. She holds multiple qualifications, including a BCom in Industrial Psychology, and is currently pursuing her Honours with the aim of becoming a grief counsellor for bereaved parents at work.
In 2021, her son Cayd passed away from a heart condition after spending most of his life in hospital. Supported by Paedspal in his final weeks, Mariaan later became a Community Representative to help give parents a voice.
She’s a certified makeup artist, passionate about design, photography, and research, and runs an NPO in Cayd’s memory to support other grieving families.
Stefan Graebe
Board Member
Stefan holds a Ph.D. in engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and has worked across academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. After nearly 20 years in academia and leadership roles in the oil and refining sector, he moved to South Africa and trained as a coach with Martha Beck in 2009. He now works as an executive and personal coach, bringing his experience in organisational development and strategy to Paedspal. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking and travelling with his wife.
Barbara Green-thompson
Board Member
Barbara is an ICF-certified integral coach and qualified palliative care nurse with a Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care (2017). She previously served as Director of the Palliative Care Institute at HPCA, where she led the rollout of national training programmes for public health professionals.
Her work helped shape the accreditation of palliative care training with the SA Nursing Council and HWSETA. Barbara also holds a Master’s in Public Health from Wits, specialising in health systems and policy. Since 2020, she’s been with UCT’s Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and is currently researching in the Division of Interdisciplinary and Palliative Care Medicine. She’s passionate about using creative approaches to share knowledge and build thriving, healthy communities.
Partnership
Meet our partners
FOOTPRINTS FOR SAM
Since 2017, Paedspal has enjoyed an amazing partnership with Footprints 4 Sam (F4S). The two Super Sam Hero Vehicles transport stable children and their families to Paedspal’s clinic and Red Cross children’s hospital appointments. The vans are driven by The Footprints 4 Sam drivers, Humbert Kordom and Sonwabo Mandindi, who are far more than just drivers and are much loved by the patients and their families!
The Footprints 4 Sam drivers face an increasing number of challenges including poor roads, taxi protests,gang violence and the impact of load shedding on traffic. Some of our patients live in so-called “Red Zones” and they have to devise plans to pick families up at safe pick-up and drop-off points.
The Super Sam Hero Vehicles also play a critical role in transporting our team to our outreach sites (St Joseph’s Children’s Home, Sivuyile and communities in Atlantis (West Coast) where our team provides an outreach service twice a year.
Learn more at Footprints for Sam
HUMBERT KORDOM
Humbert, known as Humbie, is one of the Footprints 4 Sam Drivers. Humbie started with Footprints 4 Sam in March 2018. He has been a driver for 16 years, working at Avis and also doing long distance driving. He sees his work with Footprints 4 Sam and Paedspal not as a job but as a calling. He has learnt that many of our patients have many difficulties in their lives as well as having a sick child and with this, he has learnt patience with the patients! He takes patients to their Paedspal appointments but also to their regular Red Cross appointments.
SONWABO MANDINDI
Humbert, known as Humbie, is one of the Footprints 4 Sam Drivers. Humbie started with Footprints 4 Sam in March 2018. He has been a driver for 16 years, working at Avis and also doing long distance driving. He sees his work with Footprints 4 Sam and Paedspal not as a job but as a calling. He has learnt that many of our patients have many difficulties in their lives as well as having a sick child and with this, he has learnt patience with the patients! He takes patients to their Paedspal appointments but also to their regular Red Cross appointments.
PATCH SOUTH AFRICA
Paedspal is part of the South African Children’s Palliative Care Network, or Patch South Africa (PatchSA), through which much of the advocacy work for Paediatric Palliative Care in SA is being done. Dr Meiring is Head of the Advocacy Committee for PatchSA and also represents Paediatrics on the Provincial Palliative Care Task team responsible for palliative care implementation in the Western Cape.
Learn more at PatchSA
WARRIORS OF HOPE (WOH)
Warriors of Hope is a Cape Town-based non-profit dedicated to uplifting communities through spiritual care, youth mentorship, and women’s empowerment. Founded in 2014, the organisation offers chaplaincy services at Red Cross Hospital, runs life skills programmes for youth, and tackles period poverty through education and sustainable sanitary solutions. In 2024, they launched a Wellness Centre and helpline to expand their mental health and grief support services.
Learn more at woh.co.za.
THE ROHAN BLOOM FOUNDATION
Paedspal and their team of dedicated doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals, and The Rohan Bloom Foundation are committed to providing vital Paediatric Palliative Specialist Care, which is the science and art of lessening physical, psychosocial, emotional and existential suffering by a multidisciplinary team that mobilises existing resources. We have a shared vision of improving the care of children with life-limiting conditions.
Learn more at Rohan Bloom Foundation