A young mother arrived at the hospital with a family member whose heart had stopped. Fortunately, her husband knew CPR and was able to restart their heart while they waited for the ambulance. My job as a chaplain at this point was to be present with the family while the trauma staff attended to the patient.
The young woman felt helpless in this situation and yet powerful things happened as a result. Her children had witnessed the life-saving CPR and, as it would be for anyone, it was frightening and chaotic for them. “I can’t ever face such trauma again and be this unprepared,” she said. As we sat together, waiting on test results, we explored options on how she could be prepared for, and respond to, an emergency situation in the future.
The future is unpredictable and we are all at risk for any number of accidents and illness. Yet as the woman and I discussed what might have made that whole event less stressful for her and her family, she realized that there were some things she could do to better equip herself in the future like taking a first aid class and a CPR class. She also decided that never again would she allow a person in crisis to postpone calling 911, when it was clear that professional intervention was needed.
It’s fairly true that no one wants to go to the hospital. However, life is fragile and can depend on professional support. It’s also easy to panic rather than respond to a crisis in a timely manner. Being as prepared as possible, thinking through and discussing options with others before that crisis occurs, puts us in a clearer mindset to respond when circumstances require it.
Meanwhile, in the hospital Trauma Bay, the medical team was stabilizing the patient after resuscitating them. It was clear to the team that this patient’s best hope for recovery was an emerging technology that is part of a national trial. When the doctor came to talk to this young woman, he offered her another opportunity to have some agency and feeling of control through giving permission for the patient to participate in this national trial. Having that opportunity allowed her to claim her strength and come to a point of emotional Peace.
While the doctor was with us, I asked him about the best way for this woman to comfort her children. He talked about helping them to understand that life is fragile and, that, sometimes, taking care of people demands doing frightening things which are needed to treat people and make them healthy again. Understanding situations from a larger perspective can help us participate in creating Peace for our children, for ourselves, and in the world at large.
She now had three ways to prepare herself to be an active participant in caring for someone in a crisis. This made her feel more in control in out-of-control situations. We found ways to help her participate in the good of the whole while helping her family members, so that she didn’t feel totally at the whim of fate.
When we care for our beloved and can see our way forward to care for others, we’re working for the good of all. That’s Peacemaking. When we care for ourselves, finding ways to be healthy, we’re modeling new ways of being for the world’s benefit and encouraging others to do what they can. It begins to dawn on us how important it is that everyone has those options for caring and being cared for. And just like that we’re making and passing Peace. Look at us changing the world!Salaam,
Shalom, Peace, Blessed Be.