Page 45 - St. John's Healthcare Foundation FY17 Annual Report

Spiritual Care Guardian Angels

Oftentimes, the greatest challenge for patients recovering from illness The Spiritual Care team offers that human connection, which is important Recognizing Exemplary Care – Guardian Angel Award
or injury is emotional. St. John’s Hospitals Spiritual Care team supports through all stages of life. Also this team is a resource for caregivers facing Every year St. John’s Healthcare Foundation recognizes individual “Guardian Angels” for demonstrating acts of Human connections through compassion
patients beyond their health issue, helping patients and their families to fatigue. Spiritual Care helps staff to connect with their sources of strength kindness through their work. These Angels are a living reminder of the compassion and dedication modeled by
attain a sense of calm and hopefulness, which contributes to the healing and resiliency, and so restore hope and balance. In addition to hundreds the Sisters of Mercy.
process. “Spirituality is that dimension that can help people to find meaning and of patients, staff and volunteers received Spiritual Care support every day
connection to something greater than themselves,” says Father Calin Tamiian, during this last year. Honor your Guardian Angel – physician, nurse, volunteer, lab technician, transporter, food services, caregiver,
Spiritual Care Services Manager. “Patients realize that they are not limited or other member of our care team – who made a difference during your time at St. John’s Hospitals. Contact
by a disease, that illness is not what defines them.” This year Spiritual Care expanded beyond the walls of the hospital through the Foundation by email Heather.Huffman@DigntyHealth.org or by phone at (805) 988-2868.
partnerships so that we can reach our patients when they are in skilled
nursing and other community facilities. Donor supported investments
Human connections through compassion
allowed the staff to build their knowledge and skills through workshops on
best practices in spiritual care, respite,
and resiliency.

A letter from a Father
When I am asked by caring friends about how I am feeling, it is difficult to
express. After six months of having lost my son, my wound is painfully fresh, a
constant reminder of the light of my life who is now gone. But the pain is tempered
with gratitude for the years I had with him, and for the chance I had to be by his
side during his last few weeks of life.
Through my inexpressible grief I watched how professionals at St. John’s
Hospitals provided medical care with dignity and compassion to my comatose
son. Though I could not control my tears, I was moved with gratitude for the
spiritual support we received that was respectful of our beliefs and offered comfort
as we made tough end-of-life decisions. I could not have made it through this
difficult time without each and every one of you.

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