Cell 2 Soul: The Humane Health Care Blog

Father's Day by Elizabeth Schwing

"I often wonder how different things would be with my dad had I opted not to go with him to Tulsa to see his mother before she died. When I talked to my parents, they insisted that grandmother would be fine and there was no reason to go. As always, I believed them, even though she was ninety-four and had just had a massive heart attack. When I hung up and looked over at my husband, Ned, he just shook his head and said, “You’re going...”  Download Father’s Day.

Author Bio: "I am a native Houstonian and a freelance writer.  I am a married mother of three children and former elementary school teacher.  When I am not writing, I love to read, drink coffee with friends, take walks with my husband, practice yoga, and piddle around in my garden with my dogs."  You may reach her at E.S. Email.

A Blessing in Disguise

Josh Little is not a respected professor, researcher, or talking head.  He recently did time in a Florida jail.  The class paper he wrote for his community college English course teaches us that wisdom can come from many sources.  Good luck Josh!  You are on track.

"On January 6^th, 2011, I was sentenced to 364 days in the Santa Rosa County Jail in Milton, Florida.  To many, this probably seems like a punishment, but to me, jail saved my life..."  To read more  Download A Blessing in Disguise

 

My Blessing in Disguise by Josh Little

On January 6th, 2011, I was sentenced to 364 days in the Santa Rosa County Jail in Milton, Florida.  To many, this probably seems like a punishment, but to me, jail saved my life. I spent most of my teenage years getting in and out of trouble. I was always involved with the court system. I wasn’t a horrible kid. I was just raised in the rough part of the city growing up with parents who could hardly afford to pay bills.

Full story: Download Josh Little

Titanic to Taxis

by Beatrice Elpern

On April 18, 1912, my father, Albert Zuflacht, was 20 years old and working at Gimbels department store on 33^rd Street in New York City.

 He was approached that day, and asked if he knew how to operate an electric car.

He answered honestly. “No.”

“Well,” they said, “you will learn.”

And he did.

Carpathia at W. 12th St, Pier, 4/18/1912

That very day, he drove the electric car, filled with blankets from the store  on 33^rd Street, to Pier 54 in Manhattan. The Hudson River pier at Little West 12^th Street was where survivors of the Titanic disaster would be brought by the Carpathia that evening, three days after the “unsinkable” ship sunk on its maiden voyage.

I often wonder if learning to drive that day led to my father’s career choice.

My father became one of the first taxicab drivers in New York City. It was he and several other drivers who successfully lobbied for taxicab insurance in the city. And when the bill was passed, he became president of the first taxicab insurance company in this country: The 20^th Century Taxicab Insurance Company.

That company eventually went bankrupt in the Great Depression, but he remained in the taxicab insurance business for the rest of his working years.

There was a time when every cab driver in New York City knew the name Albert Zuflacht.

Author Bio:  Betty Zuflacht Elpern resides in Bronxville, N.Y. only six miles from where she grew up in the Bronx.  Her memories tie us to a time our young readers can only marvel at.  You may email her at BZE.

Bayt (House of Stone)

"In Arabic, the word 'bayt' translates literally as house, but its connotations resonate beyond rooms and walls, summoning longings gathered about family and home. In the Middle East, bayt is sacred. Empires fall. Nations topple. Borders may shift. Old loyalties may dissolve or, without warning, be altered. Home, whether it be structure or familiar ground, is finally the identity that does not fade."

Is it all that different for most of us?  Home is where the heart is.

Anthony Shahid was one of the two journalists who died recently in Syria.  He succombed to asthma -- probably treatable had he been in a stable country.  A moving essay of his appeared in the NY Times on Sunday, February, 20.

It was an excerpt from his forth coming book, "House of Stone" which will be published on February 28, 2012.  Will be available for Kindle, as hard cover and MP3.

Henry Miller wrote:  "Chaos is the score upon which reality is written."  Certainly, Syria is the nexus of chaos at this moment -- but "the moving finger writes and having writ moves on."  Concepts like Bayt endure.

Traditional Lebanese "House of Stone"

Coach Lenox Chombo

A story from Malawi

Coach's son, Hobson

Coach is lying outside of his house on a straw mat. We casually chat about the good times we spent together. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a little boy kicking a ball of plastic bags.  I ask Coach, who is the little boy?  He said this is my son Hobson.  The little boy comes over and sits in my lap.  He is not afraid of strangers, like so many children here.  I look him over very carefully and say, Coach, he has hair looks like mine.  Coach agrees and says, we men always laughed at your hair, but secretly wished we had hair like yours.  Hobson was conceived during the time you and I traveled together and I served as your interpreter. You are my brother and we love each other like brothers.  That is why Hobson has hair likes you.  Coach is very sick and I see that he is tiring and wishes to rest. I know that I must talk with him about going to the hospital...   Download Coach Lennox Chombo

 

Dean Sneed (big hair)

Author Bio:  Stephen Sneed is the Associate Dean of the College at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.  He is passionate about Southeast Africa and Malawi,in particular.  Sneed is the recipient of numerous awards and honors.  Among the awards that he has received is a Senior Fulbright Scholar Fellowship and two Fulbright Senior Specialist awards.  He has consulted at many schools, colleges, youth centers and communities on diversity issues and advocating for children of color.  Email.

 

My Mama Mia! by G. Evelyn Lampart

“You will need a mastectomy,” the barely middle-aged breast surgeon with strawberry blonde hair, Dr. G., is saying. She looks too charming and nice to perform such a violent action.  Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, her cheeks are round and joyful, her toenails are each painted a different color, and she wears strappy sandals that showcase her healthy legs. How incongruous for her to use the dreaded word: Mastectomy. Unfathomable. I am shriveling. Shrinking. She couldn't mean me. I didn't do anything wrong. Read full essay: Download My Mamma Mia

Author Bio: Evelyn Lampart is a licensed clinical social worker, as well as a writer and painter. Her latest endeavor was to join a group reading works of literature in Yiddish, her mother tongue.  Email: Evelyn Lampart.

Image: Life's Mastectomy by Artist Sara Molano

A modified version of this post is being published in the International Journal of User Driven Healthcare (IJUDH).

My Uncle "Doc"

In Pittsburgh, instead of going to a doctor, my family usually consulted Doc, my mother’s oldest brother who was an internist. After he entered medical school, he was always called “Doc” instead of Abe. Doc Starr was a quiet, serious, modest man, not tall, and with a gray moustache. Late in life he married Helen, who had worked for him as an office assistant and then became his companion. 

Renee Marks Cohen has graciously submitted her moving piece about "Doc."  You will enjoy it:  Download My Uncle Doc – Abraham Starr. You may contact Ms. Cohen at: RMC_Email.

The Exotic Dancer's Tale

The old saw goes: "If you listen to the patient long enough, she will tell you what the problem is." This could be a mantra for seeing patients. Recently, I saw a tired, sad-looking 56 year old woman for a rash on her face. It was the kind of rash associated with stress -- so I asked her to tell me what was going on in her life.

1) Her ex-husband had sexually abused her 14 yo daughter for 3 years. He's in jail now. Her daughter has been in and out of relationships since -- back home now, she is smoking and drinking. The patient's 18 yo son dropped out of high school last year and does nothing.

2) When husband was arrested for molestation, her kids were taken away by child welfare and it was 18 months before she got them back. She feels guilty about that.

3) She says that they don't have enough money for food or rent. All she gets from welfare is $700/month and it is all she and her kids have to live on.

4) She herself was abducted from a bus stop coming home from school at age 17. The guy took her to his apartment, got her drunk, sexually abused her and dropped her off in a.m. at the school bus stop where she was picked up by the police.  He was never found.

5) After high school, she became an exotic dancer and worked at that for 20 years to make money to raise her kids. She has not picked good partners. She has no savings.

Her dream as an 18 year-old was to become an artist. She still draws a bit.

I listened in amazement as this story unfolded. How can one address all of this in a dermatologic appointment? One can only honor the story by listening. I am sure there is much more for her to relate. There is always hope, but assisting this woman seems a herculean task.

Time for Natalia

"Often, we forget what an awsome responsibility and privilege it is to raise a child.  Early Adverse Childhood Experiences can retard some children's development.  In "Time for Natasha," a foster mother/grandmother tells us an important and moving story.  There is a comment from a retired fifth grade teacher as well.

"My granddaughter, Natalia, came to live with me at the age of four.  I never knew how serious a learning disability could be until then.  Her mother had been ill since before her birth.  Her father had been abusive, compelling her to sit and watch television all day.  She wasn't allowed the luxury of play nor did she watch anything age- appropriate.  There was no communication with her mother who was so medicated that she was in deep slumber most of the day.  Communication with her father consisted of constant disapproval and scolding.  I spoke Spanish to her or I'd have noticed her English was distorted beyond recognition.
It broke my heart when I realized that she had no communication skills in English, couldn't write her name, didn't recognize a single letter or sound..."  Download Time for Natalia

Comment from Bonnie Millette, a retired fifth grade teacher, who loved her work and misses the classroom even as she spends her time traveling and experincing the U.S.A.: 

"This grandmother is fantastic!!  She is shaping another life in a positive way.  She has taken on another child and shown her that even if she has a learning disability she can learn. Yes, she may take longer than many children at each grade level and not feel she fits in. As she gets older though she will understand how great it was to have a grandmother and teachers helping her but, as a child she may be more concerned with fitting in and friendships." for more Download Millette