I saw this on CNNs news page this morning. I felt gratified to see some professionals are finally seeing what Christians have known all along: terminally ill people should be told they are in a terminal state (of course, all of us are, but some are more obvious then others). http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/06/15/cancer.talk.ap/index.htmlThis article makes a statement: "people crave these conversations, because without a full and candid discussion of what they're up against and what their options are, they feel abandoned and forlorn, as though they have to face this alone." And people tend to think that confronting reality is what kills...Wrong. Knowing you are facing probable death is relaxing. You change gears, approach life differently and get ready for its passing. It gives the rest of the family opportunities to say "Good-bye" and you will never regret that. That alone will come back to comfort you after the demise of your loved one. After observing our daughter's experience with glioblastoma, being in and out of hospitals, talking with doctors, nurses, my perspective of ministering to terminally ill patients has taken a radical turn, a 180 degree turn. I have seen first hand the truth of Ecclesiastes 7:2: "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart." There is something holy, sacred in being with a terminally ill person who is ready to go to be with the LORD. Persons who minister professionally have wonderful opportunities to minister to this kind of person. Methinks if were a younger person I would seriously consider a career in this field. The opportunities to minister are great. An added benefit to ministering to terminally ill persons is that it changes your own perspective of life: what is important and what is not: what has eternal value and what does not. Being with a terminally ill person will do more to challenge your outlook on life than anything else I know. Just thought I would share this because it just might encourage [i]someone[/i].Blessings,ginnyrose
_________________Sandra Miller
When my mother was terminally ill with cancer hospice took care of her in our home the last days of her life and did a wonderful job along with all our family members. After that I though "wouldn't it be nice to work for hospice and take care of the sick on their death bed", until I saw what happened with, Terry Shiavo. I could never withhold water from a patient even if they asked me to themselves.
After that I though "wouldn't it be nice to work for hospice and take care of the sick on their death bed", until I saw what happened with, Terry Schiavo. I could never withhold water from a patient even if they asked me to themselves.
ginnyrose wrote:Quote:After that I though "wouldn't it be nice to work for hospice and take care of the sick on their death bed", until I saw what happened with, Terry Schiavo. I could never withhold water from a patient even if they asked me to themselves.Now this is the epitome of cruelty, if you ask me! ginnyrose
I don't know if I would last long there if I did. I would be giving them water and feeding them ice chips all the time.