Visited a patient who had died. The nurse was crying and wanted prayer mainly for herself. I prayed ate the bedside of the deceased patient and with the nurse. Had another call to come because the family had arrived. Went and stayed with them for awhile and had prayer with all of them. They shared how he was a musician, a writer, and such a wonderful talented person. Families like to share those good moments when a loved one has passed away.
One patient who had been having back pain went and was told his lungs were fine, came to the hospital and is full of cancer and can hardly breathe. I sat with the wife who told me they had been married 15 years. She is shocked over this sudden turn of events for her husband. It just happened. They did not know all along his was so full of cancer. To me, it sounds like a malpractice on the medical end. She asked me if I would sit with him while she went to the restroom. While she was gone, I took the opportunity to talk with him about his spiritual condition, had prayer, and quoted some Scripture along with some hymns. I am not sure if he was with me in any of this or not. He was having such a hard time in labored breathing. I called her pastor for her and he came and gave him the last rites. I checked on them a few times later on and the next morning. She seemed to want to be with others and chaplain was not needed ay longer. Her pastor was coming after a funeral in which he had to attend. The staff felt she needed some church support and counseling.
There was a large group of family and friends in the waiting room over one patient who had just been taken of the ventilator. One member of the group said the patient was not ready to die and was hoping that I would have an opportunity to talk with her about her spiritual condition. I went into the patient’s room and after briefly talking, asked about her spiritual condition and if she had peace with God, She said she did not. I asked her if she would like to pray. She said she wanted to. I asked her to repeat the
Sinner’s Prayer after me which she did. She said she felt better. It is a privilege to meet needs especially spiritually needs of patients. I went back and shared her testimony with the family member that expressed her concern. God is faithful!
Another patient was crying in her room being in such pain and worrying about her kids with friends, and husband who was in jail. I called the jail for her to see if she could talk with him. The jail said they would have to have special permission and the police would not be in to do that until Monday. He also told me they have rarely done that before. I asked if I could leave a message for him to give to the husband who was in jail. He said he would try to do this. I conveyed what the patient told me regarding her needs expressed. She was so upset and crying. The staff had difficulty keeping an IV in her so she could not get her liquid pain medicine. I had prayer with her which she appreciated.
One patient was extremely disgruntled and wanted to leave the hospital. They did not like the fact that they did not know the staff there, and knew the staff at another hospital. They said the ambulance would not take her to her own hospital and brought her here. She was hopping mad! I check about her breakfast and got a nurse for her and them had prayer. She seemed to mellow down following the prayer. I am glad how wonderful prayer works in the lives of people.
I had a call from a staff (resident doctor) person who needed counseling for their anger, lack of empathy and remorse for the mother-in-law who was dying. They expressed concern over their guilt and anger and wanted to know about this. The felt they would dance on her grave when she died, and be so glad she was gone. Their mother-in-law had taken advantage of them, treated his wife mean, and used them financially. Now, she wanted to go away for a special treatment in CA to see if she could live longer, and he felt she had about 2-4 months to live with her cancer. He expressed what relief he would have when she died. She has gallbladder cancer. He wanted some clarification on his emotions and what was going on with him. He also wondered when and how to tell his wife these feelings he was having about her mother. He said she know some of them but not to this great extent. I shared some insight and he said it helped, and that he had a measure of stability for now.
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