Life in the Face of Death
Volume 20, Number 1 Winter 2003

Article Summaries

Editorial- Living in the Face of Death by Judith Allen Shelly
This editorial addresses the reality of death as part of life. Psalmists faced death squarely and often called out to God in their distress. Death is difficult and is often feared. For those who know Christ, death does not need to be feared, but death does cause grief. God's Word provides comfort as we grieve.

A Language of the Soul: Reaching into the Depths of Dementia by Paula Vandewater
Vandewater tells of her experience with Glen, an Alzheimer's patient who followed her around the care facility and eventually warmed her heart.

A new nurse asked that Glen's intrusive behavior be controlled by medication. As a result, Glen is never the same. The author misses the former Glen and her care of future patients with Alzheimer's changes due to her interactions with Glen. She shares God's love by looking deep into their eyes and praying for the Holy Spirit to transform the words into and language of the soul.

Mom's Last Lessons: Living with Alzheimer's by Shirley Colbert
Colbert shares the three stages of Alzheimer's by relating tender events of her mother's illness. The author learns about living a fuller life from her mother's experiences with Alzheimer's.

The Three Stages of Alzheimer's
Sidebar material outlines the three stages of the disease and symptoms that generally accompany each stage.

Entering Donald's World: Creative Interventions in Alzheimer's by Marjorie Carey
Carey incorporates creative interventions in her care for an Alzheimer's patient named Donald. She and Donald pretend to "drive" a car and "fly" as they walked the halls of the care center. Carey made up words appropriate to what Donald said and found he sometimes responded.

Ray of Light a poem by Lori Anton
Captures the essence of memory loss and points to hope through love.

Rising Above Despair: Finding Hope Beyond MS by Frances Hansen
Hansen describes her experiences when her husband of eighteen years is diagnosed with MS. She finds that her faith and hope have many faces. In her grieving, hope was crushed.

Two years after the death of her husband, Hansen has contact with a young wife and mother whose husband has MS. The two discover a bond that restores Hansen's hope and offers hope to the young woman .

I'm Glad I Have AIDS: One Nurse's Story by Carolyn Curtis
Curtis recounts the story of Mary Ernst, an RN in Texas, accidentally stuck with a contaminated needle in 1990. She tests HIV-positive in 1991. Mary encounters ignorance and insensitivity from her church and eventually changes churches. She begins attending an AIDS Coalition group and meets Tony, who has AIDS. Through their friendship Tony turns to Christ. Mary relates to AIDS patients due to her own diagnosis with the disease.

A Spirit Set Free: Learning About Death from David by Karen E. Wilson
Wilson, a pediatric nurse of thirty years, experiences a watershed moment in her Christian life and as a nurse through David's death. Human suffering, when turned over to God in prayer, releases an outpouring of grace that joins with the transforming power of the cross, to transform a broken world.

Why Do We Let Our Patients Die in Silence? By Linda W. Johnston, Marolyn Baril and Janice Pearsall
The authors conducted a survey reminding seventy-seven participants that hearing is believed to be the last sense that a person loses and that people are thought to be able to hear even when unconscious. Respondents were asked to reflect on what they might like to hear in their own dying environment. Suggested sounds were: music; television or radio; reading aloud; conversations of family and friends; spiritual enrichment; and silence.

The results demonstrate that patients want to be surrounded with the sounds of life-music, family and conversations. They do not want to die in silence. The authors illustrate the need to discuss these matters with patients and family members while the loved one is able.

Let Her Go! Unafraid to Die by Janet Baird Weisiger
The author reflects on her mother's dying and the health care system's reluctance to allow people to die. Weisiger, a nurse, reminds staff of her mother's wishes and Advanced Directive for Health Care. She shares with the doctor and nurses that her mother is a Christian and is not afraid to die.

Ritual for the Dead: A Prayerful Approach to Postmortem Care by Mathilda S. Merker
Merker outlines prayers and rituals to help nurses experience postmortem care in a manner that allows the nurse's spiritual needs to be addressed.

CPR on Board the Metro by Jean C. Toth
Toth is called on to provide CPR to a man on board a commuter train. She shares her thoughts, prayers and actions while recounting the event.

In Light of Eternity by Patti Ozzello
Ozzello, a newly certified RN, desires to be known for providing spiritual care for her patients. She wants to be the RN that others come to when a patient has a spiritual need.

Fish Kisses and a New Life: Mercy Ship Surgeries Transform Lives by Kristy Layton
Latyon serves aboard the M/V Anastasis, the flagship of the Mercy Ships fleet. These floating medical hospitals bring hope and healing to the poorest of the poor in third world nations. Medical treatment for diseases such as Cancrum oris is provided aboard the ship. In addition to surgeries, medical staff must teach patients how to relearn to use their face muscles. Physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs are addressed with each patient aboard a Mercy Ship.

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