Doctoring

How many Dr’s does it take to change a light bulb. . . ?

We all know a Doctor, most likely several of them.

We all have no doubt needed one, most likely more than once and for more than one thing. . . .

I had already known and worked with Dr. Jeff Spiess several years in the hospice setting when this story took place.

A Social Worker and I were meeting with a patient who had just come into the Hospice facility. We had just introduced ourselves, our roles and reasons for visiting with her and her daughter when Dr. Jeff came into the room.

He was beginning to apologize for interrupting us, when the patient said it was alright for all of us to be together with her and her daughter to talk with her.

Dr. Jeff once said that if there’s no empty seats in room, “SIT ON THE PORTABLE COMMODE, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS CLEAN IT!”

Finding no bedside commode, he did one better: He sat on the floor in front of the patient and her daughter.

He asked her what her goals were and she went into a huge dissertation about how she was going to begin radiation therapy and then wanted to return home.

Dr. Spiess asked her a most awesome question that I had never heard another Doctor ask:

“Do I have permission to tell you some difficult news?”

She agreed.

“Well, Mrs. Johnson (I’m hip to HIPPA–not her real name), I’ve reviewed your chart and spoke with your primary physician and oncologist and not only don’t I think that the two weeks of radiation therapy will do much good, there’s a very strong chance that it will cause you even more pain and you most likely will not be able to survive it.”

Mrs. Johnson and her daughter both began to cry while the three of us provided supportive, quiet presence. It probably wasn’t any more than two minutes as we sat there with them and then the patient, in the arms of her daughter said, “THANK YOU. . .thank you for telling us the truth.”

Dr. Jeff then asked the next best question: “Knowing what you now know, what can I do for you? How can I help?”

Mrs. Johnson told us that she would like to just go home and be with her family.

Dr. Spiess told her he could make that happen and asked if she’d like to go THAT afternoon or the next morning.

Mrs. Johnson said she wanted to go that afternoon and we all confirmed that there would be medical equipment and medications to make that possible.

Dr. Jeff PERSONIFIED the Hospice philosophy at that moment.

Mrs. Johnson died ten days later.

I had the honor of conducting her Memorial Services. Her daughter spoke during the service and told
T H A T story. I’ll never forget, though it’s been several years now, what she said next:

“We came to a hospice facility searching for a cure and we found a Doctor who offered HEALING. Dr. Spiess didn’t give us years to be with our mother, but he provided precious moments we’ll have for the rest of our years!”

HOW MANY DOCTORS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

Psssssst: When it’s the RIGHT DOCTOR–ZERO–no additional Light needed.

Dr. Jeffery Spiess is retiring today from Hospice of the Western Reserve, but not from the Memories, the Hearts, the Lives of many he’s treated and touched. . .Mine included. I’m a better chaplain, husband, father, grandfather, friend and joke-teller. . . .

Somehow. . .

GOOD BYE

doesn’t seem as appropriate as

T H A N K
Y O U !