Justin's HOPE healthcare tumblelog

In loving memory of our precious child~by dale ann micalizzi

Healthcare Openness Professionalism Excellence

Contact and Comments to: micalizzidag@aol.com

Justin's HOPE at the Task Force For Child Survival and Development

Compassion in Healthcare-The Heart of Healing


By TwitterButtons.com

Oct 3, 2009 11:44am
In memory of Lindsay, a beautiful little girl, who died from medical complications not too long ago….precious moments and memories will guide you through this difficult day. It takes courage that I know her mom will find.

In memory of Lindsay, a beautiful little girl, who died from medical complications not too long ago….precious moments and memories will guide you through this difficult day. It takes courage that I know her mom will find.

Sep 23, 2009 5:49am
Sep 19, 2009 6:55pm
Sep 16, 2009 6:40pm
Sep 11, 2009 5:17pm
Sep 10, 2009 4:24pm
Sep 10, 2009 4:20pm
Sep 7, 2009 10:45pm
Sep 7, 2009 9:52am
I had the pleasure of presenting at this local IHI Open School Kick off event with Dr. Dan Mayer of Albany Medical College, Dr. Wendy Weller of the University of Albany School of Public Health, Shannon Mills of IHI and Kelly O’Connor-chapter leader. (click on photo for link)
I would like to encourage and challenge all area students (of any age) from the SUNY campuses and area health care organizations to join, participate and take an active role in the future of healthcare. You can truly make a difference! Please join the facebook group, as well. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50984252380#/group.php?gid=50984252380

I had the pleasure of presenting at this local IHI Open School Kick off event with Dr. Dan Mayer of Albany Medical College, Dr. Wendy Weller of the University of Albany School of Public Health, Shannon Mills of IHI and Kelly O’Connor-chapter leader. (click on photo for link)

I would like to encourage and challenge all area students (of any age) from the SUNY campuses and area health care organizations to join, participate and take an active role in the future of healthcare. You can truly make a difference! Please join the facebook group, as well. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50984252380#/group.php?gid=50984252380

Sep 7, 2009 8:57am
Modern Healthcare Safety Crusaders: From tragedy to advocacy (click on photo for link to article-sub req)
A determined breed of patient-safety advocates have forged their personal pain into a dedication to improving medical safety
By Jean DerGurahian
….Patient-safety advocates are a fundamental part of system improvement, said Mark Novotny, a physician who is interim CEO of 99-bed Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, Bennington, which asked for Micalizzi’s help after hearing her speak at an Institute for Healthcare Improvement forum. “A lot of healthcare is designed around those of us providing the care,” he said. “How can you possibly understand what patients want if they’re not in the room?”…

Modern Healthcare Safety Crusaders: From tragedy to advocacy (click on photo for link to article-sub req)

A determined breed of patient-safety advocates have forged their personal pain into a dedication to improving medical safety

By Jean DerGurahian

….Patient-safety advocates are a fundamental part of system improvement, said Mark Novotny, a physician who is interim CEO of 99-bed Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, Bennington, which asked for Micalizzi’s help after hearing her speak at an Institute for Healthcare Improvement forum. “A lot of healthcare is designed around those of us providing the care,” he said. “How can you possibly understand what patients want if they’re not in the room?”…

Sep 6, 2009 8:36am

Church Bells (#simple abundance Sunday)

It was time to organize my Sunday School room yesterday following a very busy summer.  I teach 1st and 2nd graders about God, love and compassion. I’m not real good at teaching forgiveness yet but I’m working on that.  There is little talk of religion in the social media medical world so thought that I would toss the topic in as a reminder of its importance to those grieving and also for the need of more clergy and social work support on hospital floors.  

Our parent support group was well attended this month. Several dads added wonderfully to the conversation and provided guidance for the newly grieving and for each other. Women usually outnumber them at these meetings but not this time. This month the dads led with grace and told their stories about the deaths of their children…and cried. One mentioned that his office is ”dominated” by men and only one of his colleagues had ever mentioned the death of his child. Not a pat on the back or a how ya doin…nothing. It made me think about the behaviors of male physicians following their patient’s death. Do some just not know how to console each other and families? Were they never taught that it’s ok to express empathy, concern and to cry? Well, they did at our meeting and it came naturally.  

We talked about signs from our children that they were ok which we all depend upon and hope for daily. We talked about miraculous rainbows, and cardinals and music. We talked about that there are no coincidences. We talked about losing trust in doctors, lawyers and police officers-all playing a valid part in each story. We talked about gaining that trust back and how that exactly can be accomplished. “Time,” one dad said, “it just takes time.”  

We discussed losing faith in God. Several previously religious families have never returned to church again, never said prayers again and have lost all trust following the deaths of their children. They are mad at God. “It’s OK, God can take it,” my husband added. Some parents are more spiritual now and not so religious. Some feel the need to sit in the back of church, if they do attend, near an exit in case there is a need for a rapid departure. Some can no longer attend weddings or funerals or hear church songs because of the unspeakable sadness and memories of their children. Some feel that God can do anything and he should have saved their child. ”Why did he let us down” or ”God would never let this happen to us-we were so faithful,” many often say. “How can we believe in him again like we used to?” So many questions about our faith that others may not even realize. Loss is complicated. Many of us now realize that God did not cause our pain but is there totally to help us through it.  

It’s been awhile since I was alone in church with God as I was yesterday. Just me and God and the silence. I sat quietly in the back pew, not my usual Sunday Morning spot-third row back on the left side. I sit there because that was our spot when all of my kids attended with me. It is my sacred place which reminds me of my deep faith. I now share it with other families.  

A glance at the new hand sanitizers now inhabiting the back of each pew made me smile. The flowers, stained glass windows and the simplicity of our alter warms me. It was peaceful. I had a private talk with God yesterday and prayed for Justin and my children, husband, family and friends and for strength. I don’t pray for answers much anymore. I’m one of those parents who had lost the ability to pray as I did before our loss but this was different. I listened to the dad from the support group say that he prays harder now to protect his other children…”much more intently than before,” he said, so I gave it a try. 

I quietly locked up the church and strolled casually down the walk way and then the church bells started to play, the church bells that my friends had contributed when their daughter died just weeks before Justin’s death. I heard Becky’s bells ring at the most precise moment that I needed them to… a sign… and I smiled and was filled with simple abundance and faith and knew that Justin and Becky were ok. 

Sep 4, 2009 7:26pm
Sep 2, 2009 2:35pm
Aug 25, 2009 7:38am
Aug 25, 2009 7:30am
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