Trust in What?
December 16, 2003
My most memorable experience with “helping” a dying patient was when I was a paramedic. We responded to a call around 10 p.m. in one of the local housing “projects”. As we entered the front door, we saw an elderly black man, late 70s or early 80s, lying motionless on a hospital bed in the living room. His family was gathered around him, heads bowed and weeping softly. His eyes were closed and he was breathing.
His wife explained that he had a long bout with cancer and had been recently sent home from the hospital because there was nothing else they could do for him there.
In an effort to wake him up, I gently shook him while saying, “Mr. Johnson, Mr. Johnson.” (not his real name) No response. I pinched his leg. No response. The final thing I did was something that hurts A LOT to a conscious person: I pressed one of my knuckles into his sternum. Still no response. Despite my efforts, Mr. Johnson remained totally unresponsive to verbal or painful stimuli.
When we contacted his physician on the phone, we were told that his body was riddled with cancer and that there was nothing more that could be done for him at the hospital. His MD stated that the family agreed to let him die in peace at home, but, apparently, they weren’t as prepared for that event as they thought. His doctor instructed us to transport Mr. Johnson to the hospital so that he could die there, and added, “No heroics” (i.e., no IV, no oxygen, no monitor, no CPR, no lights and sirens).
Mr. Johnson remained totally unresponsive while we transferred him from the bed onto our stretcher. There was about 15-20 yards of grass between his apartment and where our ambulance was parked. We rolled the stretcher over the bumpy grass out to the ambulance, not to be “mean”, but to see if THAT might elicit some response. We lifted the stretcher into the ambulance, locked it in place, and closed the back doors. I rode in back with him while my partner drove us to the hospital at normal speed.
His wife explained that he had a long bout with cancer and had been recently sent home from the hospital because there was nothing else they could do for him there.
In an effort to wake him up, I gently shook him while saying, “Mr. Johnson, Mr. Johnson.” (not his real name) No response. I pinched his leg. No response. The final thing I did was something that hurts A LOT to a conscious person: I pressed one of my knuckles into his sternum. Still no response. Despite my efforts, Mr. Johnson remained totally unresponsive to verbal or painful stimuli.
When we contacted his physician on the phone, we were told that his body was riddled with cancer and that there was nothing more that could be done for him at the hospital. His MD stated that the family agreed to let him die in peace at home, but, apparently, they weren’t as prepared for that event as they thought. His doctor instructed us to transport Mr. Johnson to the hospital so that he could die there, and added, “No heroics” (i.e., no IV, no oxygen, no monitor, no CPR, no lights and sirens).
Mr. Johnson remained totally unresponsive while we transferred him from the bed onto our stretcher. There was about 15-20 yards of grass between his apartment and where our ambulance was parked. We rolled the stretcher over the bumpy grass out to the ambulance, not to be “mean”, but to see if THAT might elicit some response. We lifted the stretcher into the ambulance, locked it in place, and closed the back doors. I rode in back with him while my partner drove us to the hospital at normal speed.
I continued my attempts to stimulate him by calling his name several times, jostling him from left to right, and gently pressing a knuckle into his sternum. Still no response. I sat back and began to write my run report, documenting the night’s events.
I looked up for a second and saw him lying motionless on the stretcher in front of me and thought, “This man is dying. He’s not responding to words or pain. I wonder if he’ll respond to love. This run report can wait.”
I placed the paperwork next to me on the bench, leaned forward, picked up his hand and held it in mine. Taking a conscious breath (as I learned from Prem Rawat), I FELT a STRONG CONNECTION with my Creator as that breath bridged the gap between my finite body and the infinite that resides within me, filling me once again with this precious Gift of Life. At that exact MOMENT, Mr. Johnson opened his eyes, slowly turned his head towards me, looked into my eyes, smiled, closed his eyes, and died.
I wasn’t saddened, I was humbled. I felt grateful and fortunate that I was “used” to comfort and assist this man during his transition from this life to whatever happens next.
People who are dying are spiritually attuned, and their need is for that to be validated. Mr. Johnson was oblivious to verbal and painful stimuli. Those were external, physical forces. But, somehow, he was awakened by an unseen Love that can only be FELT. Although no words were exchanged, there is no doubt that his smile was his way of saying “Thank you.” It was as if he was waiting for an affirmation of Love, God, Truth – whatever you want to call it – before leaving his body.
This one incident was a gentle, yet powerful, reminder to trust in the ONLY thing that is worthy of our trust: the ONE LOVE that connects us all.
I looked up for a second and saw him lying motionless on the stretcher in front of me and thought, “This man is dying. He’s not responding to words or pain. I wonder if he’ll respond to love. This run report can wait.”
I placed the paperwork next to me on the bench, leaned forward, picked up his hand and held it in mine. Taking a conscious breath (as I learned from Prem Rawat), I FELT a STRONG CONNECTION with my Creator as that breath bridged the gap between my finite body and the infinite that resides within me, filling me once again with this precious Gift of Life. At that exact MOMENT, Mr. Johnson opened his eyes, slowly turned his head towards me, looked into my eyes, smiled, closed his eyes, and died.
I wasn’t saddened, I was humbled. I felt grateful and fortunate that I was “used” to comfort and assist this man during his transition from this life to whatever happens next.
People who are dying are spiritually attuned, and their need is for that to be validated. Mr. Johnson was oblivious to verbal and painful stimuli. Those were external, physical forces. But, somehow, he was awakened by an unseen Love that can only be FELT. Although no words were exchanged, there is no doubt that his smile was his way of saying “Thank you.” It was as if he was waiting for an affirmation of Love, God, Truth – whatever you want to call it – before leaving his body.
This one incident was a gentle, yet powerful, reminder to trust in the ONLY thing that is worthy of our trust: the ONE LOVE that connects us all.
Treating from the Heart
November 11, 2003
As a paramedic, I responded to a call at a small hotel. The manager reported that a guest was having “difficult breathing”.
On arrival, we walked into the man’s room. He was in his 60’s, lying on his bed with labored breathing. He had a bulbous red nose (like W.C. Fields), and a small bottle of nitroglycerin tablets on the nightstand next to his bed. His breath smelled like he’d been drinking. I read his name on the Rx.
I said, “Mr. Johnson (not his real name), do you have any other problems besides angina?” He said, “Go away.” I explained that the manager called us to check him for his labored breathing and that, since we were there, he should at least let us evaluate him. There would be no charge if we didn’t transport him.
While my partner began to take his blood pressure, I asked if he was taking any other meds. He said they were in the “grip” at the foot of the bed. I opened the small leather pouch and saw several generic Rx’s from a VA hospital. The man was a World War II veteran.
Just then, the guy got up off the bed, BP cuff still dangling from his arm, rushed over to sit in a chair directly in front of me, our knees almost touching, flipped open his small suitcase took a pistol off the top of his clothes pointed it at his head closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. It literally happened that fast – no time for punctuation.
My immediate thoughts were 1) “Well, he’s not pointing that gun at me”, 2) “He’s not mad at me”, and finally, “I wonder how loud it’s gonna be?”
My partner then literally ran over the top of the mattress, twisted the gun from the guy’s hand, opened the chamber, and dumped 6 bullets onto the bed.
On arrival, we walked into the man’s room. He was in his 60’s, lying on his bed with labored breathing. He had a bulbous red nose (like W.C. Fields), and a small bottle of nitroglycerin tablets on the nightstand next to his bed. His breath smelled like he’d been drinking. I read his name on the Rx.
I said, “Mr. Johnson (not his real name), do you have any other problems besides angina?” He said, “Go away.” I explained that the manager called us to check him for his labored breathing and that, since we were there, he should at least let us evaluate him. There would be no charge if we didn’t transport him.
While my partner began to take his blood pressure, I asked if he was taking any other meds. He said they were in the “grip” at the foot of the bed. I opened the small leather pouch and saw several generic Rx’s from a VA hospital. The man was a World War II veteran.
Just then, the guy got up off the bed, BP cuff still dangling from his arm, rushed over to sit in a chair directly in front of me, our knees almost touching, flipped open his small suitcase took a pistol off the top of his clothes pointed it at his head closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. It literally happened that fast – no time for punctuation.
My immediate thoughts were 1) “Well, he’s not pointing that gun at me”, 2) “He’s not mad at me”, and finally, “I wonder how loud it’s gonna be?”
My partner then literally ran over the top of the mattress, twisted the gun from the guy’s hand, opened the chamber, and dumped 6 bullets onto the bed.
When the police arrived (attempted suicide), Mr. Johnson told the cop, “You got a gun, YOU shoot me.” The cop calmly said, “I got no reason to shoot you.”
Realizing that this man needed to hear the right words to help him at that time was a no-brainer. I asked him again, from my heart, “Mr. Johnson, what is going on?” He replied, “I was a prisoner of war in a German concentration camp.”
At that moment, Rick Garzaniti stepped aside and the following response just flowed from my mouth: “Mr. Johnson, you didn’t let them kill you THEN, don’t let them kill you NOW!!”
It was then that he got up and willfully laid down on our stretcher.
This is a perfect example of how being present, treating the patient from our hearts, and listening with our being is so important.
It certainly worked for me.
NOTE: The night before we responded to this call, CBS TV aired a special program honoring World War II military personnel called “V Day”. The program included lots of footage of actual WWII beach landings and battle scenes. As I watched that program (part of it), I couldn’t help but wonder what effect those videos would have on WWII veterans. I found out the next afternoon.
Realizing that this man needed to hear the right words to help him at that time was a no-brainer. I asked him again, from my heart, “Mr. Johnson, what is going on?” He replied, “I was a prisoner of war in a German concentration camp.”
At that moment, Rick Garzaniti stepped aside and the following response just flowed from my mouth: “Mr. Johnson, you didn’t let them kill you THEN, don’t let them kill you NOW!!”
It was then that he got up and willfully laid down on our stretcher.
This is a perfect example of how being present, treating the patient from our hearts, and listening with our being is so important.
It certainly worked for me.
NOTE: The night before we responded to this call, CBS TV aired a special program honoring World War II military personnel called “V Day”. The program included lots of footage of actual WWII beach landings and battle scenes. As I watched that program (part of it), I couldn’t help but wonder what effect those videos would have on WWII veterans. I found out the next afternoon.
Who is Prem Rawat and What Does He Offer?
August 30, 2003
Prem Rawat, also known by the honorary title, “Maharaji”, has been traveling the world for more than 50 years bringing a unique message of peace. He gave his first public addresses at the age of 4, and by the age of 13 he was responding to invitations to speak in the United States and Great Britain.
His message comes from his heart. He speaks about the possibility for each person to find peace within, regardless of circumstances.
Addressing a distinguished audience at the invitation of the United Nations Association of Malaysia, he recently said, “Peace is a fundamental necessity, and begins with each individual. And, yes, peace is possible.”
Through The Prem Rawat Foundation, he also spearheads significant humanitarian initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people most in need.
From large cities to remote villages, millions of people around the world come to him for inspiration and guidance. Even as his audiences increase, Prem Rawat’s message remains directed to each individual. “If you are looking for fulfillment and peace,” he says, “the solution lies within. If that is what you want, I can help.”
He offers 4 simple, practical techniques that he calls “Knowledge.” The techniques are designed to redirect your focus from outside your body to inside your body because, “The peace you are looking for is within you”. He does this for free! As he has said, “How can I charge you for something you already have?”
Prem offers a home study course called PEAK, an acronym for Peace Education And Knowledge.
His message comes from his heart. He speaks about the possibility for each person to find peace within, regardless of circumstances.
Addressing a distinguished audience at the invitation of the United Nations Association of Malaysia, he recently said, “Peace is a fundamental necessity, and begins with each individual. And, yes, peace is possible.”
Through The Prem Rawat Foundation, he also spearheads significant humanitarian initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people most in need.
From large cities to remote villages, millions of people around the world come to him for inspiration and guidance. Even as his audiences increase, Prem Rawat’s message remains directed to each individual. “If you are looking for fulfillment and peace,” he says, “the solution lies within. If that is what you want, I can help.”
He offers 4 simple, practical techniques that he calls “Knowledge.” The techniques are designed to redirect your focus from outside your body to inside your body because, “The peace you are looking for is within you”. He does this for free! As he has said, “How can I charge you for something you already have?”
Prem offers a home study course called PEAK, an acronym for Peace Education And Knowledge.
For more information, please visit the following websites:
www.tprf.org
www.premrawat.com
www.tprf.org
www.premrawat.com