Note form Chaplain Jeanne 4/30/2010

Walking into one patients room I offered him a Scripture card. He accepted and immediately asked for his glasses. He went on to shared how they had went on a vacation as a family and how his wife died from carbon monoxide as soon as she arrived at the hospital, and that he had almost did. He presently lives with his son. He shared how he had lost his daughter died when she was 26, and his son with he was 46. He added that he had heard God will not put more on you than you can bear. What a testimony!

Who really is NOT ever cross with someone or says things that they should not say. I am not that perfect, but am working on it. There was a patient who felt ready to die according to guest present who has been their caregiver. The caregiver told me that the patient does not want to be alone when she dies. She talked about how much time she had spent with the patient over the years and was always oncall for her at any time. She said she had never once been cross with her and ever said anything mean to her. She truely cared for this person as a genuine friend.

There was a Patient who had an addiction to smoking. She really did not want to quite bad enough. She said she would like to have the desire to quit but she did not have the desire to do that. She shared that she lived with her sister who was controlling and judgmental and it bothered her. Her sister would allow her to smoke in her house - amazing enough! Her sister used to be a smoker and had quite smoking cold turkey. She did not feel that her sister could helo her to quit because she felt she would not do it the way that she needed it done - too controlling. I asked the Patient what would be good reasons to quit and she shared some good reasons why she should quit. Until she is willing to give them up she will not get help; she would probably like God to take the desire away like he did for her sister, but God does not always work that way. Sometimes, we have to help our self. She wanted to go into a program that would do it for her and watch over her as she had her withdrawals.

I visited a young man shared how on his way to the hospital his friend called in "Jesus" in the car, and his pain stopped. He was amazed! When chaplain prayed he held his hand in the air, and prayed also for some time after chaplain was completed. Amazing!

A dear lady was sitting in a chair when I entered her room. She looked fairly well. She shared how she had been raised by a great stepmother after her mother died. Said a pastor told her once she was not a Christian because she did not go to church when she was sick an unable to attend. She said she hopes God is walking with her. She did not seem to have assurance that she was ok spiritually. It is sad the way some pastors have been judgmental toward their congregation in causing them undue fear because they are too sick to go to church. It is one thing staying home because you don't want to go, and another thing when you are too sick.

Pt shared she was agoraphobic and schizophrenic. Her mother is obese. They really need help at their home. They cannot cut the lawn and received a warning that the city would do it and they would be charge. She told them she can't. She also shared that she has a bran aneurysm. She expressed interest in a certain book that someone at the hospital gave to another patient. I did not know what she was talking about and never did find out later either. I suggested that she contact a certain church that I knew in the area, and contact and Social Services for their needs they had..

A certain Patient said she was a Catholic, and had married a Methodist. She now attends a Baptist church. She said she was surprised at how many churches will not offer to pick someone up who needs a ride. She is going with her neighbor at this time to church. It is sad when the church does not meet theses needs in the community. Jesus reach out into the community, He did not stay inside the building of a church. We must go out!