The Integrated Palliative Care Service of the ULS of Barcelos/Esposende (ULSBE) organized the workshop “Entre Cacos: Reconstruir, Integrar, Cuidar” (Between Shards: Reconstruct, Integrate, Care) at the Olaria Museum in Barcelos. The initiative brought together professionals from various ULSBE services and Palliative Care teams from other Local Health Units.
The challenge was to reconstruct a ceramic piece from its fragments, without models or expected outcomes. The final pieces were all different, with some showing visible marks of fragmentation and others with unfilled spaces. Some participants shared their extra shards to help others complete their pieces, translating the idea that reconstruction does not have to be a solitary journey.
The experience led to a reflection on the steps needed to deal with loss: recognizing what has broken, accepting the remaining marks, acknowledging what cannot be recovered, and discovering how to move forward. Father Jorge Vilaça led this reflection.
More than just a different activity, the workshop aimed to create a space for the professionals themselves to be cared for, recognizing that they are not immune to the impact of the suffering they witness daily and that their own fragility deserves time, attention, and acceptance.
