Trinity Episcopal Church
44 East Market St. Bethlehem PA 18018-5989 610-867-4741
HEALTH-RELATED MINISTRY:
A BEGINNING
by Dave Howell for May 2002 Newsletter
I was at the drug store a few days ago at the same time that a woman was filling a prescription. The pharmacist said that her insurance would not cover the cost, which would be over three hundred dollars. He told her that many of his recent customers had the same problem, and that some were going without medication. He also mentioned a similar situation in his own family. As it turned out, the woman could only afford to buy about a week's worth of medicine.
I am sure many of you have had or have seen similar experiences. I cannot understand how this could happen so often in the wealthiest country in the world. But I do understand that we can help both ourselves and others deal with a health care system that seems to get more complicated day by day.
That is the idea behind a health care ministries project that has started both at Trinity and throughout the Bethlehem Diocese as encouraged by Bishop Paul and his wife Diana. Even those of us that are not employed in the health care field can help, from transporting parishioners to doctors' appointments, to providing some companionship, to making phone calls.
On Saturday, April 13, Karen Knisely led a meeting of fifty or so parishioners in sharing health care experiences and then in assembling a list of their most pressing issues. The resulting concerns were posted on the walls of the Parish Hall for two weeks so that everyone could "vote" on the ones that they thought were the most important. The results are being tabulated and will be published in the next newsletter. *
There were many unhappy stories told during the meeting. Some did have happy endings due to the intervention of family or friends. At the very least, some parishioners may have seen that they shared their problems with many others. And that their needs were not unique. Several people later told about making connections during the meeting which would help solve some of their own health-related problems.
So often it seems that there is nothing that we can do. One answer might be to repeat a story that appeared last November on BBC News: "Research shows prayer has a beneficial effect. Patients admitted to hospital with heart problems suffer fewer complications if someone prays for them, according to scientists in the US. The study, carried out at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, found that patients who received alternative therapy following angioplasty were 25% to 30% less likely to suffer complications. And those who received 'intercessory prayer' had the greatest success rate. The study, carried out between April 1997 and April 1998, involved 150 patients who had all undergone angioplasty."
As many people pointed out in the meeting, knowing that you are not alone can be the most important step, both in recovery and in everyday life.
Mother Laura commented: "Saturday's meeting was an inspiring first step. I was much moved by the depth of experience that people were willing to share. And heartened by the energy and commitment that people are showing. Even more exciting is the fact that the cards that received the most votes are things we have the ability to do right now, with only a little organization."
* Sara Creech is going to be tabulating them and also giving us a more scientific analysis of the big newsprint sheets we did. But the cards that got lots of dots were things like transporting people to the doctor, information-including printed and internet resources, advocacy.… -LH
