The Importance of Hospital Visitation!

G'day Everyone!

I'm back once again on another post of the Hospital / Patient Series.

But let me back track a little bit about Living Will. While this is an important document to have during your hospital stay, it's more like an advance directives of orders to your health care proxy and the hospital to carry out. It's saying "If this is what happens to me, please respect these wishes of my rational thought of what I want done for me if I become unresponsive to make my own decisions." As I said before, this is preparing to expect the unexpected things of life. Especially when you are dealing with a hospital. So that being said, you can prepare yourself for the unexpected things in life. Making a will and a living will now will cover what you want done for you in life. Most of these forms are available at Staples, Office Depot, and other office supply centers. When you complete these forms, take them to a lawyer's office to have them checked over and then certified by a notary service agent. OK? Cool? Great.

On with today's post: The Importance of Hospital Visitation. This also includes visiting patients in nursing homes and rehabilitation places.

Why is it so important? Ok, I'm going to give you a very good reason why. When I was watching the discovery channel on TV, they were explaining that one patient was making POOR recovery following emergency surgery. Why the poor progress? Because the patient had NO family and NO friends to visit him. Just only the hospital staff. It told me that a patient is less likely to recover in the face of the stranger because there is no trust between patient and hospital staff.

If a patient has family and friends visiting them, even with someone being the patient health care proxy for the patient, the patient is more likely to recover faster in the hospital and eventually go home.

It is common between hearing and deaf people that they think a patient needs a lot of REST while they are in the hospital. NOT TRUE!! When you are in a hospital, it can be a VERY LONELY ROOM with a STRANGE STAFF that you really don't know. New sights and sounds can be very frightening.
This is why patients, especially deaf patients need their friends and family to visit them in the hospital. When you walk in that room, you will brighten up that person's day to see them visiting.
Some people have a fear of hospitals. Some people don't like hospitals.
But you know what? Friendship is MORE important than your fear. Fight that fear. Go visit your friend or Relative in the hospital. Because you are helping them to physically feel better and recover faster when they see you. It strengths the bond of friendship deeper.

One example: A few years ago, I heard my best friend, Paul Ealy, was sent to the hospital unexpectedly. Though he was unable to inform me, his mom did the next best thing, she called me. Though Paul has friends through his deaf ministry, it doesn't come much better. Paul burst into the biggest smile I've seen in him in many years. He laughed out loud (which is rare of him) and his first words were "How did you know I was here?". I told him "Thank your mom. She did this for you. She knew you'd want someone you know best to visit". He laughed a little more and shed a tear a bit. He asked me why I'd drive so far out of the way to visit him here. I told him: "I care about you. Because no matter what happens, I want to be here for you.". That just drew us closer as best friends more ever since.

When I got hit by Staph Infection in December 2006, I can remember how lonely it was in the hospital room. I don't have any deaf friends in Williamsport. I don't own a sidekick. All was I had was a cell phone that I text messaged daily to my far away friends. Even two hearing friends of mine, I called and asked "please visit". They ignored the pleas. People get scared of staph, but should not be. Just Gown and gloves was all you need. Unfortunately, of those two hearing friends, friendship died. But I thank my friends who texted me. My Christmas wish is a side kick! (prolly getting in 2009).

Earlier this week, when my friend, who's in the hospital,was feeling down because people were not visiting him, I went into action. I've had to personally ask people to visit to go visit him. It's not just pleading, but making a case of friendship a compelling interest of investment of time. So far, I've gotten 3 people to visit him. I plan to be visiting my friend just after Christmas as I have a trip lined up. Pleading for people to visit a friend takes work to do. Finding them is part of the job. I wish we had friends where we are every day. For me, I don't have a friend where I live now, but in 2009, I hope to move to a place where I can make NEW friends and enjoy life more since I may have a job in that area.

so till next post, go visit your friend today. Even if he/she is not in the hospital, but you'll feel better to know you did!

Semper FI!