This past Christmas Day at Our Redeemer, Iowa City, before the late worship service, the mother of this nurse was visiting here from her home in Iowa West. She had met the wife of a patient at the motel where she and her husband were staying. When she noticed me, she quickly stated that she had a patient she wanted me to see. She shared that she did not know their particular denomination, but she knew it was a challenging situation that needed pastoral care. To make it a little more challenging, she did not know the name of the patient. So, sometimes chaplains have to do some detective work.
The fellow in the picture had been repairing a waterline on his farm when the dirt caved in on him. The pain was so terrific that he asked those outside of the hole to just cover him up and put a tombstone on top! Later he was very grateful to have the pain under control and then to have surgery to repair the broken bone in his leg on the day after Christmas. His home pastor was able to visit this patient once while he was here.
However, later on an infection developed which may have been caused by germs in the barnyard dirt. This delayed the discharge date. Some frustration developed, not only for the patient, but also for the patient's wife as she was a nurse and convinced that her husband's care wasn't all that it might have been.
When I learned about the complications and the related feelings, I checked with the head nurse. The nurse was willing to meet with the patient's wife so that a better understanding of the overall situation might make the healing challenge easier to bear for the patient and the family. As the pictures show, as more information was shared the patient's wife's attitude changed. This in turn provided the patient with a better healing atmosphere. This patient was soon discharged back to his calling on the farm.So, we continue to thank the Lord of the Church for His healing power, physically, mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually. It is such a blessing to know that the Lord is our Shepherd each day and the He blesses us with "under shepherds" to assist us on our way. His Word and the Sacraments continue to empower us as we share the unique gifts our gracious God provides us throughout our lives so that in turn we can support each other as "we bear one another's burdens."
If you yourself, or someone you love, are coming to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, PLEASE BE SURE TO TELL THE FOLKS AT THE REGISTRATION DESK THAT your religious preference Lutheran - Missouri Synod. This will enable our Deaconess / Chaplain Carol Goldfish and / or myself to make contact with you sooner than if your religious preference is listed as "unknown", "no preference", "Lutheran", or "Christian".
The hospital operator (319 356 1616) or "O" within the hospital, can page me on #3436, or Carol on #5133. Since we do have Clinical Pastoral Education residents on some nursing units, you or the person you know may be seen by one of them.
This is important because our entire Department of Spiritual Services sees less than 6 patients out of every 100 admissions. We need to know you are there.
