Hospitals Matter!

Here is a snapshot of our family for the last few weeks that I want to share. Mom and Dad have both been dealing with serious health issues. This has made me stop and pause and enjoy celebrating them and celebrating my own family’s health. God is the one that gives “life and breath and everything else.” I have been blessed with a family that has always worked hard and taken care of themselves with relatively low medical needs. Mom said, that until this recent surgery, she had not been in a hospital for 47 years, and that was when I was born at Clinch Memorial Hospital. I need to mention here Dr. Lewis Chisolm, a childhood hero of mine, was my fondest memory of the Clinch medical community. He helped Mom birth me, took care of all sorts of needs my entire life, including chicken pox, stitched up my chin, splinted my broken arm, tonsils, flu, broken leg, etc.., he was amazing. He had a clinic at his house and in town. I was honored to be a pall bearer at his funeral as he was also my Scout Master and all of the pallbearers were Eagle Scouts. He was from a different era of doctors, and I am glad to have grown up seeing that way of life.

So, Mom and Dad have found themselves dealing with cancer of different kinds at the same time. Mom has had a large soft tissue sarcoma taken off her thigh and is doing well after about a week in Shands and now is in rehab. My sister, April was able and willing to serve her during that time and was an advocate to ensure all was done well and in order as best we could. Gratefully, Mom is progressing.

As I write, Dad is on day 21 in the hospital with challenges from colon cancer. He had several masses removed which went well but his challenge is in swallowing and getting enough caloric intake to sustain him. His esophagus is not working well, a high hernia is causing issues and many of the liquids leak over into the lungs. After many days of trial and error, we have opted for a stomach tube and are hoping this provides a temporary solution to get his strength and energy up. I have been staying with him in the hospital, and these are some of my observations.

The greatest challenge besides being away from my family, has been my mental focus. I have been up and down and all around, which is surprising to me. I have a lot of meaningful activity to do and much of that I could do remotely, but the constant disruption has kept me off kilter. An hour or two of sleep at the time, a beeping machine, need to draw blood, fall back asleep, then blood pressure and temperature checks, then fall back asleep, then bathroom breaks, a hospital couch… it is brutal. A kind nurse that cracks the door and gently walks is contrasted by a young tech that burst in at 2 a.m. and throws on all of the lights with a loud voice. Arrgh! And then, dealing with the insurance companies will TEST your faith.

Let’s take a brief look at hospitals as I have come to appreciate the people and believe we are a blessed nation to have the healthcare we do, even with its challenges. The compassionate example of Jesus has much to do with our current hospital systems. The early followers of Jesus were taking care of the marginalized and sick in society. The four gospel books in the Bible are full of examples of Jesus healing the sick and showing compassion on the hurting. His ministry focused on meeting the physical and spiritual well-being of people. During the Roman Occupation, the Christ-followers were mostly outcasts but were still serving others that society would not. During the fourth century when Constantine forced a form of Christianity on the people, it allowed formal places of healing and care for the sick to be established, early hospitals. Monks and nuns often dedicated their lives to provide physical and spiritual care for others. One prominent example was the Basilica of St. Sampson was converted to a hospital in the 5thcentury and incorporated medical care, prayer, and spiritual support for patients.

Many of the great advances in science and medicine were made from those of Christian faith and these advancements made medical knowledge and practice more accepted and recommended. They saw the importance of scientific exploration alongside spiritual care was the formula for a good response to those that were hurting. Faith and reason were both needed to promote healing.

Modern Christian missionaries and medical professionals have established hospitals all over the world, particularly in areas with limited access to healthcare. Which other group is doing that? This is a testament to the life change that Jesus brings to His followers, it is in our DNA to help others and love them. Jesus taught the critical understanding and belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every human being and this is the model we should follow today. Everyone, no matter the malady, has worth and needs our best effort.

Dad and I were reading this morning out of Boyd Bailey’s “Book of Comfort.” The passage was taken from Job 33.

Someone may be chastened on the bed of pain with constant distress in their bones, so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal… Let their flesh be renewed like a child’s.

I read the last sentence twice and Dad said, “Boy do I need that.” As we have been here, the staff have been great servants that would make Jesus proud, and they may not even know they are part of His legacy of care. The chaplain and the chapel have brought us comfort and ministered to our soul. As I have been in many hospitals, many times, I think I have a new appreciation and care for these dear caregivers that truly do hard things.

Just consider serving those near you well too. I will close with a quote from Dad as we have had some meaningful conversations. He said, “I will be better or I will really be better, and either way I am fine.” He knows the hope of eternity with Jesus brings peace and confidence.