Photo from Max Pixel.
Recently, I had anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery done on my neck. Two of my discs were bulging so badly that they were pushing on my spine. My arm had been numb for several months and although I did physical therapy for over a year in an attempt to avoid the surgery, I could no longer wait and the procedure was finally scheduled.
Four hours and six screws later, I am recuperating nicely and the benefits of the surgery were felt instantly. I woke up with no numbness or tingling in my arm and am thrilled with the results.
My procedure was done at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. When I checked in for surgery, I immediately asked if I could see the rabbi from the Spiritual Care department for a prayer. I clarified that if a rabbi was not available, I would happily pray with any member of the clergy. I simply wanted to pray with someone dedicated to God, and the religious affiliation was not that important. I sat with my son and told him how much I wanted the rabbi to come and he assured me it would be fine and we could pray on our own, but not to worry because someone was coming.
I am a woman of faith and have experienced many blessings, but this was a rare moment of authentic spiritual connection to another human being
I was waiting for the nurse to arrive to insert an IV when Chaplain Phil Kiehl walked in. He introduced himself and said he stopped by because he had heard I wanted to pray with him. I almost started to cry because I was so happy to see him.
He sat with me and my son and took some time to get to know us. He asked about the operation, who the surgeon would be, who the anesthesiologist would be, the nature of my pain and the goal of the procedure. After we chatted for a few minutes, we joined hands and my son and gave what can be described only as a perfect prayer.
It was kind and honest and made me feel very safe in my faith. It was a prayer of compassion and blessings. When Kiehl left the room, my son and I turned to each other and both said it was the most wonderful prayer and had left us so happy. I went into surgery feeling comfortable with my medical team and embraced by God.
The next day, as I rested and waited for the doctor to give permission for me to leave the hospital, a woman from the clergy office stopped by. Her name was Rebecca Stringer and she was paying me an unexpected visit because she heard I was going to be discharged.
She had a beautiful smile and a warmth I could feel. Her soul was visible and I was profoundly moved by her. We spoke about prayer and the importance it has in both of our lives. We spoke about our children and she told me that she had lost a child to cancer. Her beloved little boy had died, and she spoke of him in a way that painted a picture of love. This angel has a remarkable mother who is rooted in prayer and faith. She helped me more than she could ever know.
She held my hand and said a prayer that made me cry. I will forever remember her generosity of spirit and the feeling it gave me. Her words brought me real healing.
We may practice different religions, but we pray to the same God and our exchange was special. I am a woman of faith and have experienced many blessings, but this was a rare moment of authentic spiritual connection to another human being. We were sisters in prayer and I felt God holding onto us. When you can connect through God, without the judgment of religion, it is remarkable.
When Rebecca left my room, I had a feeling of gratitude in the wake of her grace. My surgery was a success. I thank Phil Kiehl and Rebecca Stringer, alongside my medical team. There is power in prayer, and when voices join together, it reminds us how simple life becomes when we are keeping the faith.
Ilana Angel writes the Keeping the Faith blog at jewishjournal.com.
In Search of a Prayer During a Trying Time : http://ift.tt/2G28TDP
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