(Photo courtesy: Jean-Mark Arkalian)
We would like to keep face with life. Hurdles and difficulties are part and parcel of this destiny of keeping face with life. We would like to move things the way we would like to, but rarely it happens the way we think. There are short moments in our life which come as a calm breeze. They are very essential because they give new impetus to our life in moments of darkness.
In the last week, I spent quite a good number of hours and days in a hospital. Having myself made part of hospital life during my illness, interestingly, I feel at home being in the hospital. I have been given the charge of looking after the old and infirm of our community. This has made me to make my way to the hospital as often as possible.
One thought that struck me very strong when I was in the ICU recently is this: People who serve in this precious and sacred place should have incredible generosity. You need to have a lot patience and resilience to be part of the ICU staff. With noise of machines tottering every moment without a stop, groaning of those undergoing treatment - a good number of them make their way UP - the mood in the ICU is not very encouraging. Since the ICU's are specially arranged, organized and constructed, spending 8-12 hours a day is certainly a tough job. Moreover, the nursing staff has to be ready to accompany the last moments of those ill and those painful moments, who are lying in a state of "let me go" or let me at least get back to the Ward.
This week, I have to be in the hospital in one way or the other accompanying three of my brother Jesuits, who have to go though the loneliness of hospital life; if one had to go through an operation, other had his kidneys failing and the third found hospital is a better place than a home as old age creeping very powerfully on him. Being in the hospital, I did a number of things, including encouraging the lay attenders that I have to make adjustments in seeing two patients at once, meeting the doctors who make to the hospital in their own particular time allotted to them, meeting the staff nurses who take care of our patients, who, in fact, give a bitter picture of the person who is under their care than the doctors, consulting the hospital administrative staff to see that insurance and other financial details are settled in good time.
One thing has become clearer to me. Once you go to the hospital, you are not sure when you will return home. But there is always joy in being with one's patients. There is ample time and opportunity to instil hope and positivity in them. Say a word of appreciation to those nurses, security guards and supporting staff for their incredible and life saving work. As well as instilling some faith and patience with those other patients, who some times feel left out from this healing grace.
- Olvin Veigas, SJ
15 September 2019
1 comment:
"For what shall it profit a man,if he gains the whole world,and suffer the loss of his soul." Fr.Olvin whoever reads this article of yours is definitely one with your feelings that you experienced on your sick bed in the hospital that you have never expected to be in your life. What made your stay a blessing to others is, your large heart to accept challenges in order to give hope to others. "The hands that helps are holier than the lips that prays." It's apt to quote here as we all admire your generous and sincere gratitude to the people with the hands and heart of Mother Teresa. It's an article gifted to everyone who crave to be better "ME" in the future. There's a wise saying,"It's better to bend than to break." Thank you for gently exhorting us to be humble ourselves and generous enough to recognise the great service of others. Thanks for your hearing.
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