Extraordinary Response

After working with us for two more years, Tom learned that he had a terminal cancer. A common response to that news would be to go home and withdraw from personal contacts. Tom’s response was anything but common. Instead, Tom marched down the hallway to the media services department and asked them to make a video recording of his death. Some 1800 hours of recording was edited to 20 minutes of the most poignant, insightful commentary on the experience of dying. The film, A Dying Man’s Journey, debuted at the Heartland Film Festival, and is a part of our program, too. Should you choose to use it, it is available from St. Vincent Seton Cove, 2425 Dugan St., Indianapolis IN 46260.

Attitudes & World View

In contrast to the previous large group dialogue, rather than moving to the next segment before the conversation is exhausted as you will for the first three vignettes, let each participant have the opportunity to state his or her personal commitment. After their comment point out that we learned and will continue to learn about bedside spirituality from the relationships we have in the hospital. Another component of bedside spirituality relates to our attitude and our world view. Those who are dying can have great wisdom in this arena, but rarely do we pause to hear their thoughts. The story of Rev. Tom Stoll can help us. Tom came to St. Vincent hospital after working for 20 years in parish ministry with the Episcopal Church. He enrolled as a chaplain intern and was assigned to our surgery and recovery departments. Over the eighteen months of his internship the atmosphere in the operating rooms slowly changed. Episodes of anger and foul language became less frequent. He talked with individuals, prayed with patients and organized a prayer group for the staff that met early, before the day’s operations began. He was very popular. When he completed his training, the hospital hired him immediately to continue his work. We will continue Tom's story next time.