Radiating info on Pastoral Care
Posted by Esther Fabian : October 23rd, 2009It’s been about an hour since my last radiation treatment for breast cancer. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to since I began treatment in August.
Beating breast cancer
I won’t miss the daily trips to the basement of the hospital every weekday morning, the burning armpit and the not being able to wear deodorant.
I will miss Ken’s wonderful laugh and the rest of the friendly radiation techs who greeted me every day.
When you’re sitting in the waiting room for treatment (which was never very long for me), you get to know others going through treatment at the same time. I’ll miss watching another patient working on a puzzle down there each morning. A patient who travels an hour each way (passing a number of other reputable hospitals to come to UTMC, by the way) for his treatment. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled when he gets those hours back!
And I think about how lucky I am. No chemo. No horrible side effects from radiation. And most of all, the incredible outpouring of support from friends, family, co-workers, and people I’ve never even met!
Not everybody has all of that.
Connie Nofziger, Manager of Patient Support Services
And for those individuals – the people who are facing much pain, suffering, confusion and more, there’s help at the hospital from the folks in pastoral care. Pastoral Care Week happens to be Oct. 26 through 30 this year.
They provide the obvious services for patients and families, such as spiritual support, sacramental ministries, Holy Communion and other religious services, but they provide much more, too: grief and loss support, trauma/crisis support, assistance with advanced directives and support in ethical decision making. They even loan out CD players with CDs with soothing music and art supplies.
So if you’re reading this as a member of the general public, keep this in the back of your mind, should your family or friends ever need it (and, of course, I hope you never do).
If you provide care in our hospital, remember that these services are there for the patients you help, and how important they can be.
Esther Fabian is the director of health care marketing at The University of Toledo. Although she is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, Esther has willingly traded in brown and orange for the blue and gold. Over her nine years of employment at the institution, she continues to be fascinated by the incredible things that UT Medical Center professionals do every day to help people and loves learning about the many aspects of health care through those exceptional people. Esther hopes to use this journal to give folks a peek into the world of UT Medical Center, and maybe an occasional glimpse into the world of a working mom and owner of many, many pets.
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October 23rd, 2009at 12:13 pm
You are absolutely right! Connie and Lynette in Pastoral Care are wonderful, and patient support for them is more than a job. I’ve seen it from both sides. I’m privileged to be an occasional volunteer for eucharistic ministry so I’ve enjoyed getting to know them. On the other side, when my Godson was recently in MICU after a head trauma, Connie was extremely supportive to his mother and me. UTMC is lucky to have them!
October 23rd, 2009at 1:08 pm
Wonderful attribute to those spiritual heroes who take our hand and lead us in healing our whole person. They help us remember that suffering is a part of life, a gift that fuels our spiritual path while here on Earth.