... we're all in this together ...
"Don't die with the music still in you."
--Wayne Dyer
If you have a story worth telling, take heart:
it’s never too late to share it.
No matter your age, your health, or circumstance,
your story needs to be told.
As a nurse, medical social worker, and pioneer in palliative care, my late mother was dedicated to easing the suffering of others by welcoming their wisdom.
“Patients are injured storytellers,” she always told me.
“Their stories are crucial. And we need to listen.”
Blessed with healing hands and a caregiving heart, she fought tirelessly to revive the art of care. A warrior-healer, she never resisted battle for the sake of a patient because she knew first-hand how patient suffering increases when doctors refuse to listen, when doctors treat the symptoms but not the person.
This had been the gift of her life, her gift to share. And she would never give up trying to share it. Right to the very end, she was a warrior-healer with a story to tell.
Read More at Kathy Pooler's Blog: https://wp.me/p1vAO5-3Mu
Ten Wishes for More Heart and Compassion in Medicine
"The lost art of listening and ignoring the patient as a human being
is a quintessential failure of our health care system."
-- Dr. Bernard Lown
Technology reigns supreme in our modern lives, but we must never forget the healing power of compassion and human connection. Especially when combined with good medicine.
My article, "Ten Wishes for Heart and Compassion in Medicine", (reprinted below) was originally published by Mobile Health Times and discusses the human side of illness, the power of compassionate patient-centred care, and some of the key elements for reviving the lost art of care.
The Gift of Palliative Care
Behind the Book:
Stay, Breathe with Me:
The Gift of Compassionate Medicine
A Podcast Discussion with Charlene Jones.
How the profound nature of palliative care
lies at the very heart of the art of care.
At the Heart of Compassion Lies the Art of Listening
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
~Leo Buscaglia
When my own life was upended, I was lucky to experience the power of a compassionate other. A marvellous other, a complete stranger, who offered me exactly what I needed. My article,
"Two Kind Words That Can Change or Save a Life"
originally appeared on Tiny Buddha. Here is a reprint:
The Courage Behind Compassion: finding compassion in scary moments
Giving Voice to Your Courage:
A Podcast Discussion with Dorit Sasson
Don't be afraid of your fear.
It's trying to tell you something important.
If you look deeply into it, it can energize you for what you need to do.
And it might even make way for love and healing ...
