From Chaplain to Patient: Personal Story

It was a day like any other. I reported to work as usual. I was scheduled to attend a Seminar at MD Anderson Cancer Center at the medical center with my peers. Little did I know that, I would end up in the ER as a patient.

I was aware that I was not doing very well with my health for the last one-month, but one thing I was sure of is that it was nothing serious. I had taken some de-wormers because simply because I thought I had some worms, which made me feel so uncomfortable. I could not eat much as I am used to, most of the time I had no appetite for food, and I felt same craps in the stomach.

I made the decision to see my doctor, I called his office to let him know that I am unwell and I needed his appointment. However the nurse who answered the phone seemed to share the some thought with me that this sounds an emergency and I need to go down at ER and get checked. The fortunate thing at this moment was that the ER was only about 4 minutes walk from the place I was attending a seminar.

From Chaplain to patient

At this time I thought my visit to the ER was a quick one and soon or latter I would be asked to go home after the check up. I had a few patients I had planned to visit this afternoon. To my surprise I was admitted to the ER as a patient. I remember I had not taken my lunch, I thought that I would be back soon to eat.

A male nurse who first attended me by giving me the gown also spread the bed for me and he said “after you put on this (giving the gown), make yourself comfortable on this bed” I thought he was not serious since I had explained that I did not feel that sick. But in the course of the admission process, I realized that for sure I am becoming a patient in the hospital, something I had not anticipated.

The second person to attend me was a laboratory technician who came in and said he needed to draw blood out of me for test. I was moved from the room where I was and put in a different room in the same unit. This time I was more concerned about what these medics are up to. I was even more surprised that he drew 8 small bottles of blood from me. I became more nervous for I did not understand how he could get all that blood for a test in the lab.

Doctors visit

A doctor familiar to me come in and introduced himself, and said that he his filling in for my doctor. He did several things with my stomach including using his own fingers to press hard below the diaphragm. Each time he asks, “Does it hurt there?” There wasn’t much pain but I needed doctors’ attention to be able to understand what has been happening the last one month. He finally said he is going to check if I had appendicitis.

Cats Scan

The next place I found myself was the Catscan unit where I had to go several stages to complete the examination. I was scared to death since I could not remember having seen a doctor the whole of my life. I knew that if this was the problem I had, than it is not uneasy one since I could remember my own sister who had lots of struggle with the same problem. However, in my mind I could say this is not it. But on the other hand I kept on thinking how serious it would be.

Interaction with care givers

In my practice as a chaplain, I have always liked the way the group in this unit works. On various occasion I have been to the Unit, and I have close relationship with same of the people working here. Several of them came in to see me and wished me well. I was more scared when all my peers came in turns to see me. This reminded me of patients I visit in other Units.

I did not want them see me as a very sick person; thus I would tell them that I do not feel very bad. It was for me when patient transport person came by and asked to take me to the Cats Scan Unit on level two. I requested him to let me walk rather than push me on the bed. My fear here was that people that I know would see me in the patients’ bed and wonder what is happening. This was the most difficult time for me as a patient considering that I have never been to hospital before.

My own worries and those of my family

I was worried that if something was wrong with my appendix, I would go for surgery, which brought me the thought of how I see people suffer in SICU after surgery. I could not stop thinking how painful it would be, and how I will face lots of emotional charges after the surgery.

All this time in the ER, I did not want my wife to know because I was not sure what the diagnosis would be. I was afraid that if she realizes that I am in hospital she would come over leaving the children alone. By this time our three girls were nothing but babies.

On the other hand I was afraid that I would get some sick off days which would interfere with my learning process and my chaplaincy experience. I did not like imagining my peers coming to see me and how they would empathize with me.

Teamwork appreciated

Over and over again I have heard patients say that they have been given all the care they may want to ask in the hospital. I felt the some when each member in the caregiving team came by my bed. There were several nurses who came at different times, the patient liaison, the doctor who made it clear that he was covering for my physician, all my peers, my coordinating Chaplains and my supervisor who was with me all the along. I could now understand how patients feel when they are visited.

Mission and evangelism- A guide to Church Planters and pastors

Term definition:
Mission is reaching out to the other person (people). This can be done in various ways depending on where and who is doing it.

Church and Mission work
It is the duty of the local church, organizations to develop a missionary life and spirit in the Local church.
Support of missionary “specials” by individuals and organization and the whole church.

How the local church should be involved:

Many protestant churches believe in the ‘priesthood’ of all believers – each member of the church has a role to play in missions and evangelism.

“All members of the body of Christ are called to be
Ministers. Everyone has a definite function that is
essential to the body as a whole” Rick 1992, 118.

Commission of Jesus to the Twelve in Mark 6:7f.

Proposals for local Church.
One to one – this involves each person by;
Visiting members
Calling them on phone
Spending time with new members of the church

Door to door. This may be done by a group of people or pairs
· This model is the one in Mark 6: 7

Church Revivals and Spiritual retreats.
· Youth Groups Spiritual Meetings
· Women revivals
· Men Revival/spiritual Camps

Commitment in Mission.

What does it take to commit oneself to Mission work?
· Commitment
· Time
· Devotion
· Money/Resources

Leader (ship):
Learned
Educated
Adviser
Devoted
Enabler
Resourceful

CARING - A tool for Pastoral Care: Real Case presentation.Revised

Ida (not her real name) had been in the hospital four days when her mother asked the hospital chaplain to visit. Ida is 4 years old, a daughter of a single parent. She had respiratory problems and was struggling to breathe. After spending sleepless, disorienting days and nights at her daughter’s bedside, Monica (name changed) needed someone to talk to.

During this visit, I learned family members, friends and co-workers had come to visit Monica and her daughter, and they were great. Monica told me she really wanted them around, but she lamented that they didn’t understand the clinical language that defined her new existence and that of her daughter. Monica said the doctors and nurses were polite, efficient and professional by all means, but focused on their jobs.

I’m writing this column to explain the role of a hospital chaplain. Many patients and families of loved ones in a hospital think of a hospital chaplain only as a priest who delivers Last Rites when a person is dying. In fact, many times I have visited with patients who decline the visit, saying they are not dying.

At one point, I was making morning rounds in a regular medical unit when one of the patients asked whether I knew something she didn’t. She thought her prognosis was very poor and I was coming to prepare her for the worst news.

Of course, if you are religiously observant, a chaplain can offer you Communion, light Shabbat candles, read scriptures, provide anointing, among other religious Rites. A chaplain is someone whose job is to help patients, families and hospital staff find their place both emotionally and spiritually.

But chaplains are not just for religious folks, they’re for everybody. Since all humans are spiritual beings, regardless of their belief system, chaplains are for them all. “A chaplain is for people of faith and those of none,” source unknown.

Most of you reading this article know very well that being in hospital can be very isolating, probably having been in a hospital yourself or having a loved one in hospital as a patient. It is the role of a chaplains to come in and pull the curtains back in that dark room and help patient remember there is more to their life than being a patient. The chaplain does not necessarily visit to talk to the patients, but also to listen and empathize with them. As a chaplain, I find myself many times simply sitting and listening to patients narrates their stories.

Monica was in the best hospital, as she later told me. She had been seen by professional doctors and nurses who were very caring, but she observed that they had no time to listen to her. The chaplain is a safe person to talk to, someone with no agenda except the wellbeing of the patient, and who has time to listen. Chaplains are resources for all things: religious, spiritual, emotional, social, etc. While doctors and other staff might be able to fill some of those needs, chaplains are professionals in this area.

Because many people don’t know about chaplaincy services, or hesitate to call on a chaplain even if one is available, the service is under-used. Some of my duties are to help patients with Medical Power of Attorney, Directives to Physician, bedside prayer, serve Holy Communion, be a liaison between the patient and local community or churches, and so much more. Most patients decline this free service, thinking it costs.

When I arrived in Ida’s room, the visit just what her mother needed. Monica later told me she needed someone wearing normal clothes (not scrubs and lab coats), who sat with her and asked about Ida, listened to her story, and said a little healing prayer for Ida.

I later learned Monica was not a practicing Christian, yet she needed a chaplain to provide for her emotional and spiritual needs. During our visit, Monica was in tears, and finally she was able to express emotions.

It is my advice that, if you find yourself in the hospital as a patient or with a loved one as a patient, like Monica and Ida, why not asks the nurse if the chaplain can drop in on you. A little human contact might do you good — no religious beliefs required.