Good Medicine

UMTV Web Brief 5-21-03 #51

Creature Comfort – Intro:

I’m Reed Galin, and welcome to this week’s UMTV Web Brief.

Every parent knows that it’s no fun to try and comfort a sick, scared child. That’s why hospitals like Methodist Charlton Medical Center in Texas have found a new way to calm nerves ... with the help of a furry friend.

Creature Comfort – Story:

For 4-year-old Kendell Beard, a trip to the emergency room is a frightening experience.

All Kendell knows is that he hurts. It’s tough for Mom to comfort him.

The knock at the door comes at just the right time.

Officer Victor Byrd / Methodist Charlton Medical Center: “ I found a little friend wandering outside and he really needs a friend to take care of him. Can you do that for me?”

Armed with donations from the youth group at First United Methodist Church in Celina, Texas, police officer Victor Byrd delivers a dose of comfort. Through the Adopt-a-Bear program, more than 3,000 patients in Dallas, like 2-year-old Justin Myers, have found furry friends in their time of need. And the patients aren’t the only ones feeling better.

Shelby Black / First United Methodist Church: “I know it is kind of scary just being in the hospital because you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Joey Cronin / First United Methodist Church: “I wanted to make people feel better.”

Even Officer Byrd, who is shipping out to serve his country, receives some cuddly comfort.

Officer Victor Byrd: “It tells me that I have a family to come back to.”

A little something to hold onto, to make life’s tough times more bearable.

Creature Comfort – Tag:

While Officer Byrd is deployed overseas, the Adopt-a-Bear program will continue at the hospital. So far, more than 3,000 bears have been given away.

Nursing Neighbors – Intro:

We hear a lot about the health care crisis in our country. Here’s a helping hand offered by an ecumenical ministry. It trains parish nurses so that more people will have a place to turn with their medical concerns. Parish nurses make home visits, give blood pressure screenings at churches, and most importantly, offer friendship.

Nursing Neighbors – Story:

Deb Schoenfelder: “I feel it’s a real calling from God. In my life, this is where he would like me.”

Deb Schoenfelder has a big mission in a small South Dakota town, keeping her community healthy. She’s a parish nurse through The United Methodist Church.

Deb Schoenfelder: “It is dealing with the person in a holistic manner, seeing the person as body, mind and spirit all in one.”

She makes house calls to neighbors like Iola Miller, a fellow church member.

Deb Schoenfelder: “To me it’s very important that I pick up on certain aspects of their health ahead of time before something tragic happens, like a fall or something like that.”

With no family living nearby, the check-ups are paramount to Iola, who has a few health problems.

Iola Miller: “I know who to call if I need help.”

Parish nurses do not replace doctors but they are an important part of recovery. They provide help through checkups, advocacy, prayers and bonding with their patients in ways traditional medicine does not.

Deb Schoenfelder: “You can visit a newborn and 90-year-old all in the same day.”

Iola says the parish nurse program is a blessing … and so does Deb.

Deb Schoenfelder: “I love it. It’s the type of nursing I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do.”

Nursing Neighbors – Tag:

Dakota Wesleyan University has already awarded 22 scholarships to R.N.s who want to take the parish nurse prep course. There are an estimated 100 parish nurses working in South Dakota.

On the next UMTV Web Brief, putting your money where your mouth is. Meet a man who donates his whole salary to help at-risk kids go to college.

“You can either look at it and do nothing, or you can try to do something … and I chose to try to do something.”

Thanks for watching. Make it a good week.