Grim Reaper or Allied Health Care Professional? You decide

My 3^rd year as a chaplain gave me lots of new experiences. I also enjoyed getting to know the staff better and doing some innovative things with them. The thing that seems to have born much fruition was something I started at the beginning of the year. I had been talking to the Resus Officer. We both thought it’d be a good idea if I attended crash calls (where someone's heart has stopped or is about to). My role would be one of a skilled communicator.

When the team turn up to a cardiac arrest they all have their roles and their focus is totally on the patient. My focus was to be something different. I was to look after any relatives that were present. The intention was not to offer anything religious, unless asked for, but to answer any medical questions and explain what the medics were doing and act as a conduit between the medics and the family. If no family were present then my focus was to be the staff and to observe and offer a debrief after the arrest.

I had been attending these emergencies for a year now. Many staff understand what I am doing and appreciate me being there. Some staff were sceptical and thought I was just pushing religion. I have gradually broken down most barriers. There are still some who have a more old school opinion and think it’s not right for the “grim reaper” to show up until officially called for. They are in the minority though and this new initiative has been well received. In fact when I go on holiday people are now noticing my absence.

This year has shown me that the modern NHS is a place of change. It should certainly be a transforming place. I know I have been changed by some of the encounters. I wonder what the next year will bring?

Reaping the rewards of a life well lived

As I’ve mused before, sometimes life just doesn’t seem fair. A much loved and liked member of staff had a serious heart condition. He had come through several major heart operations, including one where he was on by-pass for 11 hours! I was called in one night by this man and his wife. He had just been told he had terminal cancer. They were both inconsolable. They sat linked together on the couch in the quiet room and just cried and cried. I was at a loss as to what to say to them. They were both very committed Christian’s of strong faith and that helped. I was able to read some bible passages with them and say some prayers. I sat with them for a couple of hours until the tears subsided and they started to feel a little calmer. Then they tried to spring into action and come up with a plan of how to handle things. I had to gently tell them it was too early for that and what they had to do more than anything was just get through that night. They saw the sense in that and I was able to help them plan to say goodbye that night and start again the next morning. I promised I would come back to the ward early.

The next day they were both putting on brave faces but the pain was there just below the surface. I spent quite a bit of time with them over that admission. It made a difference that they were both people of faith. We were able to have some frank conversations. The man was able to plan some things for when he was discharged. One of which was to take his wife away for a lovely weekend for their anniversary. They were able to do this and some other things before the man suddenly and peacefully slipped away a couple of months ago.

I got to take his memorial service at the hospital. I knew many people would want to come to say goodbye to this treasured man. The small chapel was packed and many people spoke movingly of how he had touched their lives. I guess we all want in the end to just touch and enrich lives, to be loved and to give love. This was certainly the case with this man. What helps me get through things like this is I know he is now reaping the rewards of a life well lived.

Was this Orthodox? What is Orthodoxy?

Sometimes as a hospital chaplain when the bleep goes off you never know what you are being called to. In this respect it can be hard to prepare yourself. This day was no exception. I was bleeped by A&E resus to say they had a 63 year old woman who was on holiday in this country, and had a massive stroke while she was talking to her son. When I got to the bedside I found 2 distressed young men. They were both her sons. The family were Russian Orthodox and were a bit perplexed to be met with a woman priest. I sensed their unease and checked their religion. Once I found out I said I would go back to my office and try and get them an orthodox priest. The staff in resus were apologetic. I find that many staff do not understand the different varieties and flavours within the same faith. In the main it’s not a problem but I was relieved I had not been disturbed in the middle of the night for this one.

I’d been back in my office 10 minutes trying to find an orthodox priest, when the bleep went again. The nurse in A&E asked me to come quickly as the patient was deteriorating and would last much longer. The family in these circumstances wanted anybody. I ran back to resus and puffed my way breathlessly through a traditional last rites and anointing. Throughout the whole of this the anaesthetist bagged the woman so that the prayers were done while she was still “alive” As soon as I finished he stopped and all the staff stepped back and let the family have a private moment with their mother.

The family came out to me and were very grateful that I had come back so quickly. They told me that it meant a lot that a priest had been with their mum when she died.

I’m not sure what God would make of all of this. I bet s/he has a good laugh as we try to make sense of things in such a confusing world. I’m sure God is not fussed by the religion of the people or the flavour of the priest. It’s more important what we each carry in our hearts and minds as we live our lives.