Dr. Dana Cable - an inspiring mentor and professor, and a great leader in thanatology....

I love to tell stories of people.... how they have inspired me, guided me, shared great moments together.... And if I was to share these memories of Dana three months ago, it would have been as easy as that... but today, after his all too sudden death, it feels difficult to sum up my thoughts in a public forum, and to share something that would have meaning to anyone other than myself and my "Hood College colleagues".

Parker Palmer in his fabulous book "The Courage to Teach" states "Good teachers possess a capacity for connectedness. They are able to weave a complex web of connections among themselves, their subjects, and their students so that students can learn to weave a world for themselves. The methods used by these weavers vary widely: lectures, Socratic dialogues, .... The connections made by good teachers are held not in their methods but in their hearts..."

In 2004 I traveled to Hood College to check out their Masters in Thanatology program while attending a course at Johns Hopkins University just an hour south. It was obvious from my first meeting with Dana, that Dana was student centered. He was willing to support my unique needs as a student traveling from the other side of the continent.

After addressing the practical concerns of how I could combine on-site, distance, transfer, and independent study... one question remained....












"Why Hood College?"

Why was this program not offered at Johns Hopkins or some prestigious college or university?

I learned the answer in the months that followed -

Why Hood College?

The answer - Dana Cable.

In the summer of 2004 and some of 2005, I lived in Frederick, Maryland.















It was a rather fairy tale existence. I studied, ate soft pretzels, walked the streets and park of this historic town, and then more of the same. I always expected girls to come skipping down the steps of the beautiful old brick buildings wearing poodle skirts!

Classes were held in basement rooms that lacked style or charm. And sitting in the uncomfortable old desk/chairs, using outdated equipment, Dana would teach.... and teach he did.

Dana presented theory and told stories. The hours cruised by. He was inspiring, and we were inspired.

He taught about Near Death Experiences . One day in class Dana asked, "If you could take one thing with you when you die, what would it be?"

After some discussion a student asked Dana what he would take. He replied, "A fork."

In answer to the question he told us a story from his childhood.... after dinner, his mom would clear the table and say, "Save your fork, the best is yet to come."

With love and gratitude for a beloved man,

Kath


Dana's formal obituary can be found at:
http://www.staufferfuneralhome.com/obits/obituary.php?id=36543

From Loss to Life - New Canadian bereavement resource

Cynthia Mitchell has launched her new website "From Loss to Life". (http://fromlosstolife.com/index.html)

It appears that she will provide: counselling for individuals and groups who have experienced a variety of losses, workshops on death education, and funeral/memorial services.

The site offers: a blog, practical suggestions for people who are grieving, and a place for upcoming events.

It is great to see the development of Canadian resources.

All the best to Cynthia!

Kath

Obama’s health care plan – Reimbursing physicians for discussing end of life treatment

As a hospice palliative care nurse I was eager to hear about Obama’s health care plan regarding end of life issues. I was naively surprised to read media reports suggesting Obama was going to bring in “death panels”, and “push the elderly to early death”. From my read, the bill simply allows physicians to be reimbursed for discussions with patients about end of life issues, and advanced directives.

Stewart Florsheim, a board co-chair of Compassion & Choices of Northern California, an organization that helps the terminally ill make end-of-life decisions wrote:

“… Section 1233 simply ensures Medicare reimbursement for voluntary consultations about end-of-life treatment between patients and their medical practitioners every five years, or more often in the case of a life-threatening change. The consultations might include discussions about hospice, options for treatment (including pain management) and the importance of having an advance directive. The bill would help validate and support the work of palliative care doctors whose services are often subsidized by the rest of the hospital because they do not generate much revenue.” See
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/39774/cruel-rumors-about-death-panels-have-no-place-in-health-care-debate/ for the complete article.

Physicians are in a unique relationship, and have the opportunity to provide valuable information and to support individuals to make informed decisions. Without advanced discussion people may not have the blessings of: discussing their illness, understanding possible outcomes of exacerbations of their illness, and making informed decisions in advance. Rather, they may die “unexpectedly” (or so it seems) in emergency departments/specialty care units/acute care wards - all too often in crisis mode.

I hope that the National Hospice Palliative Care Organization and those working in Hospice and Palliative Care in the USA will help the Americans understand that discussion and preparation is part of excellent health care. This may also lead to the discussion that death in the ICU or other acute care settings, with all the bells and whistles may not be best “end of life care”!

I also hope that Canada will follow Obama’s lead and reimburse our physicians for discussing end of life care and advanced directives with our elderly and with others whose physical condition is unstable!

Kath

Review of decision making following Hurricane Katrina

Last weekend the New York Times published an excellent article by Sheri Fink about the events that transpired at the Memorial Medical Center in the days following Hurricane Katrina. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/magazine/30doctors.html?_r=1

Sheri researched this story since the hurricane four years ago. As I read the 13,000 word article, I understood more clearly the incredible challenges facing doctors, nurses, patients, and family members during this crisis.

It is a good thing for us to revisit any such situation and examine how to improve our response in future crisis, however, I am personally unable to criticize any individual for their commitment, caring, endurance, and the challenging decisions that were carried out in the most difficult of circumstances. I also empathize with patients and families who did not understand decisions that were made.

I highly recommend this article.

Kath

Family History

I could not resist posting the photo of my great grandmother. “Granny” a.k.a. Katherine MacDonnell lived until she was nearly 102 years old. She was feisty, determined and wonderful. As a teenager I cared for her while I worked in a small “rest home” caring for six other elderly persons. I prepared meals, made beds, did laundry and provided a bit of personal care. How I loved to bathe her wrinkled skin and help her get in and out of the bath tub. I enjoyed her talking about the “old folks” who lived there… all of them at least a decade younger than her.

Unfortunately I was not with her when she died. I continue to dream about her from time to time, and even if only in my dreams, I cherish her.

-Kath