A Time for Change

This post is devoted to an email sent to me by Reiki Master, Hospice RN, friend, and author Janny Adkins, of Nashville, Tennessee.

I ask that prayers be offered for Janny's daughter-in-law, Brook, and that Reiki Level 2 and above practitioners send Reiki healing and support for Brook and for Janny. Brook was just discovered to have a pelvic mass.

Janny's email was moving in its appeal for Brook, but as well, it set off memories in my own mind both of childhood, and of last week.

Last week my partner, Dr Deborah Burton, gave Grand Rounds on Hospice for the Johns Hopkins Residency in Internal Medicine at Sinai Hospital, Baltimore. And one of the things she talked about was that, the time has ended for dismissing patients with bad news in a non caring "scientific" way. No longer should a patient be told "get your affairs in order" or "you are beyond hope."

About 50 years ago i can remember my Mother being extremely upset. Upset, and angry as well. A second cousin in Boston, a child i did not know well, but someone whose parents were dear to my Mom, had just been diagnosed with leukemia. Of course today, modern science cures some cases of leukemia, kids have a fighting chance, but at that time, science did not as yet have any answers. And when the parents of this 5 year old about to die broke down crying, he said, "the crying room for parents is there." He felt the need to retain "scientific objectivity" and "just do his job."

In some regards, the job of a doctor or nurse always has been to care, and it remains so. The fact that science allows us to cure some illnesses, does not change the human equation, that many illnessess still lead to death (what in Reiki we call transition), and all human beings eventually pass on from this mortal life.

The fact that we cannot cure does not mean that we cannot care and connect, and Graduating Medical School should reinforce this concept, not absolve one from it.

Dr. Burton and Janny are so right, the time has come when this horror has to change. Doctors need to be aware of the importance of their timing, and how information is delivered. We must never forget that science is sometimes "trumped" by that which we do not yet understand, and that where there is prayer there is hope. Where there is human connection, there is not loneliness. Where there is Hospice and where there is Reiki, there is Caring even if there is not Cure.

Janny is such an eloquent person, i ask that we read her email and think about how important Hospice is, how important our mission is, and how Reiki can help in this mission. And i ask that prayers be sent to Brook, since we can show that we care whether or not we can cure.



"Harold, Thanks for updating me. I enjoyed your Blog, and the news about your hospice team and Reiki is very exciting. It is the future of healthcare now. Reiki is such a reliable tool for me. It continues to grow in my heart that when a hospital gives me an opportunity to teach staff and patients the info in the book, I will accept that challenge immediately. I do not know what God's plan is for me but working with people like yourself, continuing the pursuit of integrated healthcare is what I want to do on the planet. Healing must happen within all of us in order that healing can be integrated into the traditional health care system.

My recent family experience with my 37 year old daughter in law has confirmed the thoughtless manner in which traditional healthcare treats people. She has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, invasive...and the CAT Scan last week indicated she has a golf ball sized mass outside of the uterus and near her spine. The angels tell me that this situation is not as bad as it seems, so I am holding on to that. Realistically she could have had this mass for a long time and it could be benign. There are two spots on her liver, which I hope are cysts.

But, it is how this information has been delivered and the timing, and the overall approach that is convenient to the system and not Brook or her family that is so distressing. That so has to change.

Please send Reiki to her and her family. You are a light for me Harold. You always bring hope for change with your email.

Thank You for Being You. Love and Light,

Janny
Janny E. Adkins, RN,BS,HS-BCBoard Certified Holistic Nurse
Spiritual Coach Nashville Metro Area 615-210-5083
www.JannyAdkins.com
Janny's new book "Help Healing Happen A Holistic Guide To Redefining Health,Hope & Healing" is available on Amazon.com