In times of crisis, Stella Maris chaplains offer in-depth, intensive, consistent support – including when a seafarer finds themselves desperately ill in a UK hospital.

One such incident occurred on 6^th July last year, when a Latvian seafarer called Renars suffered a serious heart attack while working on board his vessel in Scotland. He was taken to Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in Clydebank, where Stella Maris was there to support him.

“I was first informed about Renars I was told that he was hospitalised and that he was being treated for a heart attack,” said Joe O’Donnell, who is Senior Area Port Chaplain for Northern Ireland and Scotland.

“But very quickly, it was discovered that it was more than a heart attack. Renars actually needed a transplant and he was seriously ill. And what was going to be the outcome for Renars, Because he was here in a strange country and my own thoughts were ‘how do we care for him and support him during a time of uncertainty?’”

“So first of all I was very happy that somebody coming to see me, a completely different person who don’t who didn’t know me,” says Renars.

“He was asking to me what I want, everything what I want. I said to him, a small thing, a carrot and an apple; I just want to eat something salt and something sweet. So, he got me the carrot and the apple, and after that a big guy came.”

This was Robert King, the Stella Maris Regional Port Chaplain, and Renars say he, Robert and Joe had great fun laughing and joking together.

“He was great fun, laughing together with Joe as well laughing so as to keep a little bit of a good mood, not like everything is bad and trying to keep a good mood for me, especially as my family was so far away.”

For Joe O’Donnell the lengthy six months that he spent visiting Renars in hospital meant that Renars wasn’t just a person he was visiting, he had become part of his family.

“Emotionally I was upset at times because I genuinely thought he wasn’t going to live,” says Joe.

“So going in and trying to encourage him and keep him positive, but looking and seeing the frailty of him, was actually daunting for me because I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be for Renars.

“It came quickly to me that his wife should be over to see him because he was so ill. He indicated to me that he wasn’t sure if it was the right decision because he knew himself he was very ill, but he then said: ‘yes please Joe, arrange for my wife to come over’.

“We arranged for his wife to come over and the first thing that struck me when Jolina came in to his room was that straight away I could see for the first time a smile on his face.”

Despite being under heavy medication and being desperately ill at the time Renars remembers being asked by Joe many times if he wanted to see his family, but he knew it was going to be very difficult to get them to Scotland.

“I remember going for some kind of operation and then when I woke up – I saw my family! What did that what did that mean? Almost everything,” says Renars.

Joe recalls clearly the positive effect of Renars’ wife being able to hold his hand every day.

“Sometimes I think that’s the best medicine,” say Joe.

“That’s what he needed. He needed the person closest to him to be at his side. I tried to do my best as a chaplain, but I think having his wife and his daughter there was special and it did give him the boost he needed.

“They also let him see that that’s what he needed to do. He’s seen his family and that was his aim and focus to get better, and to be back reunited with his family back home. He said to me after it that he just wanted to get well and support his family again. That was his aim.”

It was a six month’s special friendship that Renars remains extremely grateful for.

“The people at Stella Maris were not just ticking a box when they visited me in hospital,” he says, “they did the job with all their heart.”

Following the support and encouragement given to him by Joe and Robert, Renars was able to return home to his family by Christmas 2025, and as a special surprise Renars sent a Christmas thank you video message from his two children to Joe.

“Dear Uncle Joe, thank you very much for your gifts,” they said, “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.”

……………………

Stella Maris is the largest ship visiting network in the world and every helps thousands of  seafarers with practical and pastoral support, information, and a friend in times of need.

Every year churches around the world celebrate Sea Sunday, which this year falls on this coming Sunday, 12^th July.  It is a day for people to come together to pray for seafarers and fishers, and thank them for the vital role they play in all of our lives. It is also a day when you can show your support and generosity for the incredible work that Stella Maris does for those ‘in peril on the sea’.

In times of crisis, Stella Maris chaplains offer in-depth, intensive, consistent support – including when a seafarer finds themselves desperately ill in a UK hospital.

One such incident occurred on 6^th July last year, when a Latvian seafarer called Renars suffered a serious heart attack while working on board his vessel in Scotland. He was taken to Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in Clydebank, where Stella Maris was there to support him.

“I was first informed about Renars I was told that he was hospitalised and that he was being treated for a heart attack,” said Joe O’Donnell, who is Senior Area Port Chaplain for Northern Ireland and Scotland.

“But very quickly, it was discovered that it was more than a heart attack. Renars actually needed a transplant and he was seriously ill. And what was going to be the outcome for Renars, Because he was here in a strange country and my own thoughts were ‘how do we care for him and support him during a time of uncertainty?’”

“So first of all I was very happy that somebody coming to see me, a completely different person who don’t who didn’t know me,” says Renars.

“He was asking to me what I want, everything what I want. I said to him, a small thing, a carrot and an apple; I just want to eat something salt and something sweet. So, he got me the carrot and the apple, and after that a big guy came.”

This was Robert King, the Stella Maris Regional Port Chaplain, and Renars say he, Robert and Joe had great fun laughing and joking together.

“He was great fun, laughing together with Joe as well laughing so as to keep a little bit of a good mood, not like everything is bad and trying to keep a good mood for me, especially as my family was so far away.”

For Joe O’Donnell the lengthy six months that he spent visiting Renars in hospital meant that Renars wasn’t just a person he was visiting, he had become part of his family.

“Emotionally I was upset at times because I genuinely thought he wasn’t going to live,” says Joe.

“So going in and trying to encourage him and keep him positive, but looking and seeing the frailty of him, was actually daunting for me because I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be for Renars.

“It came quickly to me that his wife should be over to see him because he was so ill. He indicated to me that he wasn’t sure if it was the right decision because he knew himself he was very ill, but he then said: ‘yes please Joe, arrange for my wife to come over’.

“We arranged for his wife to come over and the first thing that struck me when Jolina came in to his room was that straight away I could see for the first time a smile on his face.”

Despite being under heavy medication and being desperately ill at the time Renars remembers being asked by Joe many times if he wanted to see his family, but he knew it was going to be very difficult to get them to Scotland.

“I remember going for some kind of operation and then when I woke up – I saw my family! What did that what did that mean? Almost everything,” says Renars.

Joe recalls clearly the positive effect of Renars’ wife being able to hold his hand every day.

“Sometimes I think that’s the best medicine,” say Joe.

“That’s what he needed. He needed the person closest to him to be at his side. I tried to do my best as a chaplain, but I think having his wife and his daughter there was special and it did give him the boost he needed.

“They also let him see that that’s what he needed to do. He’s seen his family and that was his aim and focus to get better, and to be back reunited with his family back home. He said to me after it that he just wanted to get well and support his family again. That was his aim.”

It was a six month’s special friendship that Renars remains extremely grateful for.

“The people at Stella Maris were not just ticking a box when they visited me in hospital,” he says, “they did the job with all their heart.”

Following the support and encouragement given to him by Joe and Robert, Renars was able to return home to his family by Christmas 2025, and as a special surprise Renars sent a Christmas thank you video message from his two children to Joe.

“Dear Uncle Joe, thank you very much for your gifts,” they said, “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.”

……………………

Stella Maris is the largest ship visiting network in the world and every helps thousands of  seafarers with practical and pastoral support, information, and a friend in times of need.

Every year churches around the world celebrate Sea Sunday, which this year falls on this coming Sunday, 12^th July.  It is a day for people to come together to pray for seafarers and fishers, and thank them for the vital role they play in all of our lives. It is also a day when you can show your support and generosity for the incredible work that Stella Maris does for those ‘in peril on the sea’.