Hospital visits

R. Zutra bar Tobiah said in the name of Rav: The world was created by means of ten capacities and powers: By wisdom, by understanding, by reason, by strength, by rebuke, by might, by righteousness, by judgment, by loving-kindness, and by compassion.

I have been volunteering at United Hospital as a Jewish patient visitor for over three years.

United Hospital has 10 floors: 7 floors of patient rooms, a lower level, a main level and a top floor for meetings. Each patient floor has its specialty: post-surgery is on the 2^nd floor, ICU on the 3^rd floor, heart-lung, 4th floor, psychiatry 5^th floor, (only accessible by elevator). 6^th floor, oncology, 7^th floor, epilepsy , and 8^th floor, geriatric psychiatry. The second floor also has the Birthing Center.

As corny as it sounds, it almost seems as if the cycle of life can be visited from all the floors; even the lower level which has the tunnel I take from the volunteer office across the street and also the 9th floor which holds only meeting rooms. On days when there is a Jewish patient on each floor I can visit the whole cycle starting off by holding a newborn baby in my hands and finish by holding hands with a 90 year-old who thinks I’m his father.

The 2^nd floor birthing rooms can also hold tragedy. I once visited a mother whose child was stillborn. I came to visit shortly after knowing what had happened but not knowing that the baby’s body was still in the room. A visit seemed not enough for the grief that was still in the room, yet what else could I do other than offer condolences and my presence.

Each visit leads me to more prayer. Each floor seems to be a reflection of Rav’s ten capacities of creation. Sometimes one floor might have all ten.

I hope I address each of these capacities in my role as a volunteer. Even rebuke if needed sometimes. It is a very rewarding time. The chaplains are kind and helpful, the nurses and support staff are wonderful and staying in touch with humanity is a blessing.