Clinical Pastoral Education (Experience)

 (I feel that I have to share this)

The experience I had with a lady by the name of Theresa from Saint Joseph Star of Madang Province who was suffering with Breast cancer. She is the third in a family of eleven children. She got married at the age of 15 to a West Sepik man and they became parents to 9 children. All of whom got married at their early ages.

My patient suffered with cancer for three years without telling her children and husband. The biggest contributing factor to Theresa’s cancer was her husband’s extra marital affair.

At the hospital she was looked after by her youngest son. After sometime I got to understand her very much as to why she behaves the way she does. At first sight I thought that she had some kind of mental disorder with regard to her behavior.  

2.  Dialogue

P.1- moaning with pain

C.1- How are you feeling?

P.1- I want water (with pain she forces herself to sit but falls back)

C.1- gets the patients cup and rush into the nurses’ office asking for cold water. Comes back with a cup of cold water

C1- lifts the patient sit on the bed to drink water. Before the patient sat the bandage fell off the stinking sore on the breast.

P.1-agonizing moans after drinking water.

P1- tells the doctor to come and just cut this helpless breast off!!! (Cries out loud)

C1- felt like vomiting inhaling the rotting smell of the sore.

C1- runs in to the office and tells the nurses, “Can you please dress the sore for her?”

C2- Daughter you are to young can you go and wait outside while we dress the sore?

C 1- Goes out and waits

C 1- comes back and sits still

P1- Why are you here? (Cruel tone)

C1- because I love you (with a smile)

P 1- closes her eyes with a smile. (Moaning continues)

C1- no words just sit and rubs the back of the patient as requested

P1- falls into deep sleep

C1: says good bye to the guardian of the patient and leaves.

3.  Review of the Patient: 

Stirring conversation was not needed because of her health condition.

Presence was the most important for Theresa and doing things the way she desire. Despite the effluvium you have to stay if you want to win her heart.

The response of the patient through her body language will be assuring once her heart is won. Otherwise she is naturally an introvert person but very school as well.

                                      

4.  Review of Myself:  

 The only weakness I had with Theresa is walking the steaming sun to the hospital. However, I always tell myself to think of Theresa and other sick people. This is what helps me to be strong; I do not like the mentality of enjoying life neglecting suffering majority.

When I saw her ignoring me I told myself to have the courage to help her. I believed that her outward expression of ignorance depicted that she was inwardly weak.

I was thankful she became my best friend at last after challenging me with her actions.

5.  The Next Steps: 

I prefer to maintain same spirit, if somebody else apart from her challenges me like Theresa did, I will have to be strong and I don’t want to stop caring for the needy because I have realized that real satisfaction in my life comes from helping people.

6.  Your Reflection on the Experience:

One thing that I never understood was the importance of caring for another person who doesn’t like you. This experience really helped me especially how significant my presence at the hospital that time was.

 This unit has deepened my understanding in caring for another person with love. Getting challenged by Theresa strengthened me.

The fear I have now is the awareness of treating patients with love and respect which is not present at Modilon and obviously in other health centres in Papua New Guinea.

A.  Verbatim Two

1.  Background

Sister Hendrina is a 38 years Catholic Nun from Bougainville. She belongs to a Religious Congregation of Holy Spirit sister. The cause of her suffering was the growth in her anal opening which developed in 2010. As time passed the spot developed three arms causing complications. The seriousness of her condition was unbearable as she cannot urinate nor take a shower by herself. I was her guardian all throughout which I enjoyed.

2.  Dialogue 

C 2. You will be admitted at the hospital.

P. I want you to be with me.

C1. Sure I will be more than happy to be with you

P. I want to use the toilet

C1. (smile....) support her to the hospital..

P. Massage me whole body

C1. Does it without talking (keep smiling)

P. Don’t stop, Keep massaging!! (hard tone of voice)

C1: okaaaaaaay soooooooorrrrrrrrrry  (continues massaging until dozes off to sleep )

Before the operation .....

C1: I will bath you and wear your gown in preparation for operation

P: I am very cold....

C1: Boil water and bath her...dry her body and wear her gown

After operation...

P: Theonila.. Theonila ...Theonila where are you???!!!!??

C1: Hello I am not allowed to talk to you...I won’t leave you sister.

P: I am hungry. Give me something to eat

C1: You will not eat now because you will vomit everything I will give.

P: ok (fall asleep)

P: (wakes up from sleep) what happened to this bed?

C1: The nurses lifted the head up to help you rest well after operation

P: I am hungry...Theonila.

      3.  Review of the Patient: 

She is a person who can easily sense the heart of the carer. If she feels that you’re a not calm with her, her state of condition will be worsen automatically. She will not openly express how she is feeling if your approach is not homely. 

However, if the carer becomes too motherly to her she will be baby-like and will not try to help herself. She will become very much depended to the carer.

For those that are not really gentle to her she will pretend to be good and do some things for herself.

4.  Review of Myself:

The weakness I have is I don’t really help patients to help themselves by making sure she is treated very well. As a result she gave hard times to her sisters at home.

 5.  The Next Steps: 

As a carer I have to re-adjust my care for the patients taking into consideration their home environment. For instance, my motherly approach at times should not be used because the patients might face problems if they go back to the house like what happened to my patient.

            6.  Your Reflection on the Experience: 

This experience was another very good in which literally experienced handling the dirt of the patient. When the patient found it hard to defecate I had to push my hands into the patient’s anus.

Sleeping and waking up in the hospital, taking no shower for almost a day was a new experience for me.  I have free time was when the patient is asleep, especially when the patient was in a serious condition before the operation.

Looking into the future I know that when I become a mother I will have no problem handling my own children.

With Mathew and Leno @ the hospital was sister Hendrina.

Reference:

·         Avanhov .M.O (2004) Harmony and Health, France: Prosveta s.a

·         Kysar R (1991) Called to care,  United States of America: Fortres press

·         Romero (1998) The Violence of Love. San Francisco; The Plough Publishing House.