Cell 2 Soul: The Humane Health Care Blog

Sukkot

We are indebted to Tamar Hoffmann, an Israeli physician living and working in Hawaii who composed this picture with her husband, Chris.

This depicts the Four Kinds: "Arba'at Haminim"

Tamar writes: "During the holiday of Sukot, which is a celebration of harvest, it is a custom to perform a blessing using 4 species of plants, representing the diversity of plants in Israel, as well as the diversity of human experience.

The four species are called 'The Four Kinds,' and they are:

1. Etrog - Citrus

2. Lulav - Palm

3. Hadas - Myrtle

4. Arava - Willow

1. Etrog =  Mediterranean citrus fruit, described as "having a taste and smell"
2. Lulav =  Palm brach, described as "having a taste, but no smell"
3. Hadas = Myrtle  branches, described as "having a smell, but no taste"
4. Arava =  Willow branches, described as  "having  no taste and no smell"

Have a good year,

Tamar"

Quote for the Day

The Last Lecture

"What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? For Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, the question isn't rhetorical -- he's dying of cancer." (from WSJ article)

Ben Barankin sent us the link to an inspiring article about a Carnegie Mellon Proffesors:  "Last Lecture."

The article will be available on the Wall Street Journal's web site for another five days (but those with access to a college or university library may be able to access it longer).

This is a "must read, must see" for all of us -- so please take the time.

Dr. Pausch', a Carnegie Mellon University computer-science professor, had been invited to give his "last Lecture; but the speech was more than just an academic exercise. The 46-year-old father of three has pancreatic cancer and expects to live for just a few months. His lecture, using images on a giant screen, turned out to be a rollicking and riveting journey through the lessons of his life.

In this Electonic Age the WSJ is not the only show in town.  Professor Pausch's oration can be viewed on YouTube  It is well worth the time.

The concept of one's last lecture is a valid one.  We can think of what this would mean for us to deliver and whose "Last Lecture" we'd particularly like  to hear.

Pain

Emily Dickinson said it best:

After great pain a formal feeling comes--
The nerves sit ceremonious like tombs;
The stiff Heart questions--was it He that bore?
And yesterday--or centuries before?
The feet, mechanical, go round
A wooden way
Of ground, or air, or ought,
Regardless grown,
A quartz contentment, like a stone.

This is the hour of lead
Remembered if outlived,
As freezing persons recollect the snow--
First chill, then stupor, then the letting go.

The subject of pain and pain control is a huge one -- suitable for textbooks not blog entries.  However, we would like to bring to your attention two recent articles from the NY Times which address this topic.  It is shameful that opioids are not available  to the majority of the world's population considering they are safe and cheap.

1. Drugs Banned, Many of World’s Poor Suffer in Pain  September 10, 2007

2. Japanese Slowly Shedding Their Misgivings About the Use of Painkilling Drugs Sept. 10, 2007

3. In India, a Quest to Ease the Pain of the Dying September 11, 2007

4. Francis W. Peabody wrote a classic piece "Notes on the Effects of Morphine" in 1927.  It was completed shortly before he died of stomach cancer and while he was relying on opioids so he could function.  Here it is for those who are interested: Download peabody_on_morphine.pdf

Slow Food

The Slow Food movement was founded by Carlo Petrini in Italy as a resistance movement to combat fast food and claims to preserve the cultural cuisine and the associated food plants and seeds, domestic animals, and farming within an ecoregion. It was the first established part of the broader Slow movement. The movement has since expanded globally to 100 countries and now has 83,000 members.

There was an excellent article in the Wednesday, September 19, 2007 NY Times on the subject and about Alice Waters, a U.S. cook, restauranteur, and author.  Go to: Permalink  This is a good introduction to the slow food concept.  Be sure to view the video attached to the online Times' version.

Books you might want to peruse include:
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Animal, Vegetable and Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution by Alice Waters (published on Oct 2, 2007)

Michael Pollan is speaking at Williams College on Thursday evening, October 11, 2007 at 8:00 p.m., MainStage '62 Center

Political History

Political history is largely an account of mass violence and of the expenditure of vast resources to cope with mythical fears and hopes.
-Murray Edelman, professor, author (1919-2001)

Fuji-san: View from MA

Elaine Adler sent this beautiful view of Mt. Fuji from her Lexington, Massachusetts garden.  Her riposte to the Sept. 1 Fuji post.

Correction: I was just poking around on the web and happened to click your blog.  Surprised to see the description of my photo.   Sorry if I misled you -- and now anyone who happens to read the clip.

The photo I sent was taken at Fujidera, a Buddhist temple in the foothills of Mt. Fuji.  It is one of the many photos from my tour of Buddhist temples in Japan posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelaine/collections.  It rained the entire first week of our trip, and we never did see Mt. Fuji despite our proximity to it.  At Fujidera, I asked the resident priest where Fuji would be if she were visible.  As we stood on the porch overlooking the temple's garden, he pointed.  The photo I sent to you is where Fuji would have been had she not been hiding in the clouds.  Even in good weather, there would be no view of Fuji from my garden. Elaine Adler

Asperger's Syndrome

In the August 20th, 2007 issue of The New Yorker, Tim Page, music critic for the Washington Post, reveals that he had been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, "in the course of a protracted effort to identify - and, if possible, alleviate - my lifelong unease". The article is Parallel Play, A lifetime of restless isolation explained, by Tim Page

It can be found at: Tim Page Asperger's and is well-worth reading.

There is also an NPR Fresh Air interview with Tim Page at: NPR Page  This page has links to other NPR pieces on Asperger's syndrome.

What to say and not to say to a griever

Shay’s Ten Best and Worst Things to Say to Someone in Grief

Click here for printable Download shay_grief.pdf

The Best

1. I am so sorry for your loss.
2. I wish I had the right words. Just know I care.
3. I don’t know how you feel, but I’m here to help in any way.
4. You and your loved one will be in my thoughts and prayers.
5. My favorite memory of your loved one is…
6. I am always just a phone call away.
7. Give a hug instead of saying something.
8. We all need help at times like this, I am here for you.
9. I am usually up early (or late) if you need anything.
10. Say nothing. Just be with the person. 

The Worst

1. At least she lived a long life. Many people die young.
2. He is in a better place.
3. She brought this on herself.
4. There is a reason for everything.
5. Aren’t you over him yet? He has been dead for a while now.
6. You can still have another child.
7. She was such a good person. God wanted her to be with him.
8. I know how you feel.
9. She did what she came here to do, and it was her time to go.
10. Be strong.

Note: Shay Bintliff is a pediatrician, an ER doc, a surfer, paddler and golfer.  She is a poet, a philosopher and a teacher par excellence.  Tragically, she lost her granddaughter in October of 2005.  These recommendations and proscriptions were gleaned the hard way.  For more see her recent talk’s PowerPoint on C2S Blog.

Printable version:  Download shay_grief.doc

Shay Bintliff on Grief

Shay Bintliff is a pediatrician, an ER doc, a surfer, paddler and golfer.  She is a philosopher and a teacher par excellence.  Tragically, she lost her granddaughter in October of 2005.  What she learned about grief and grieving could help us all.  Shay has graciously allowed us to share her thoughts with our readers.

To read Shay's talk please got to: Download no_worse_there_is_none.ppt [Read-Only].pdf