MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021 - IMAGES FROM A HOSPITAL #1

 MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

IMAGES FROM A HOSPITAL #1

On the 7th of May, I had surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston Texas.  These are some of my reflections.

This particular hospital is one of a set of hospitals and medical centers in Houston.  Some of the others are:

.University of Texas Health

.MD Anderson Cancer facility

.Texas Woman’s University

.Texas Heart Institute

.Houston Methodist

.Memorial Hermann Center

.Texas Children’s Hospital

.University of Houston

.Prairie View A&M University

.Baylor College of Medicine

.CHI St. Luke’s Health

(And there are many more)

I was in Memorial Hermann in a Sarofim Medical Center.  (I had heard the name Sarofim before, as the Sarofim family had donated money for a fine arts center at Southwestern University).

My first few days of recovery were in my room with a variety of nurses, nursing assistants doing standard things.  But, by the third day, I was up-and-about.  This reflection comes from that.

At one end of the hall were four rooms that said “Isolation”.  I can only imagine the care that went on in there.  I wondered if these rooms were used at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  One of the rooms as I walked by had a policeman at the door, and sometimes another policeman in the room.  Seemingly inmates are worthy of health care as well, but in the past, they may have found ways to escape when not secured.  Another room down the hall also had one policeman on duty.

My fertile brain whipped up a scenario where visitors (and there seemed to be maybe two or three visitors in the criminal’s room) snuck a gun into the criminal’s hands and there would be a shootout and maybe a hostage crisis on the floor, and maybe a criminal’s associate would take refuge in my room and I’d become an unwilling accomplice to the action.  But, alas, that didn’t happen!!!!  (But, maybe I’ll write a short story on it).

I met three chaplains in the process (all women - is there a reason, or was it the luck of the draw).  I love spiritual things and I had great interaction with all things.

Having had surgery before, I knew I needed to get going.  By Monday, I was up-and-walking.  It was six laps around the floor for a mile (I had my step counter app on my phone).  Monday was 3.5 miles, Tuesday was 4 miles, and Wednesday was only 2.5 miles (as I was dismissed).  

Nobody else was walking.  In the occupied rooms (which was most), the patients were in their beds watching television.  Yes, some looked as maybe it could be some time before they walked, but others looked like they could walk (okay, I’m being judgmental here).  Being a Pollyanna, as I walked the floors with an IV pole, and a urine bag, I would say ‘hi’ to the nursing staff people on the floor. As I came by a second (or third or fourth) - if they were noticing me - I’d say what lap I was on and make a positive comment.  Some ignored me, I was “just” a patient walking the floor, but others smiled.  By Wednesday, most of the regular staff would smile back or nod.  On Wednesday morning, a staff member called me into her office and we talked for maybe fifteen minutes with another of her staff there.  Yes, I told her my story.  Later I dropped off two of my coloring pages (“Sew the Seeds of Hope’, and “Make Today Awesome”) which seemed to enthrall her.  She said, “I wish all our patients were like you” (which sounded like high praise).

Healing, like so many things in life, requires different things.  With healing, skillful medical staff is important but as important is the patient’s point of view!!!  I “KNEW” that my healing depended on me.  I “KNEW” I had to get up and out.  I “KNEW” I had to believe in myself.

What is going on in your life?  Healing doesn't just mean physical healing.  There are relationships that need healing - two old friends that need to make up; two siblings that something happened years ago that separated them.   Can you find it in your heart to forgive? We are to love one another!!!

Do you believe in yourself?  Do you believe you can cross those mountains (which only look treacherous and dangerous)?  Do you believe you can make a positive impact upon the world?

Back to the main thought.  Can you help health professionals?  I have been reminded of a book from some years ago, “Faith, Hope, and Healing” by Bernie Siegel.  Dr. Siegel suggested that healing gets impacted by faith and hope.  Can you share faith and hope?  Is there magic in walking around in a hospital hallway (quietly) whistling?  Is saying “Hi” to everyone you meet therapeutic? 

I believe so!!!

In high school physics class, we learned about mass. Newton’s law of gravitational pull says “ALL objects attract each other with a force of gravitational attraction.”  Now human beings have a mass, and that mass attracts other masses all day long.  Now, our mass is not like the mass of Jupiter upon its moons, but we still attract each other.  

In a sense different from physics, human beings should attract each other in terms of friendship and love.  Even as two people walk past each other, there is a gravitational attraction (thanks Newton), but there should be a human attraction that we are members of the same biological sphere.  We should exert a positive effect on all we meet.

LOVE WINS!!

Karen

(Yesterday, I took a walk and strolled through the maze of buildings. A lady I didn't recognize, recognized me and said as we passed "Hi Sweet Karen". Maybe I did have a positive effect!!!)