Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. Mattie was sitting next to his head of the lower school, Bob Weiman, or as we refer to Bob.... the Magic Man. Bob isn't only a gifted educator, but he learned magic from his father. Over the course of the year in which Mattie battled cancer, Bob came to the hospital and to our home and taught Mattie one on one. Bob's methods were engaging, empowering, and really helped Mattie come out of his shell and feel good about his skills and abilities. Mattie took pride in the magic he learned and he would use his skills to impress his nurses and other hospital staff. In fact, magic helped Mattie connect with people when he wasn't open to using words and communicating. The trick Bob was teaching Mattie in this photo was the "Peanut Booger and Jelly" trick, but its unofficial name is the "Mattie Brown" magic trick.
Quote of the day: One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. ~ Carl Jung
Today I ventured back to Georgetown University. I was just there on Tuesday as well. Tuesday I went to the Hospital, today, I went to the University part of the campus. I was asked to speak at a weekly series called "Cookie Friday" which is hosted by the Kennedy Institute of Ethics. I met the Institute's academic program officer at a jewelry party of all things. Laura happens to be a friend of Ilona's, my friend in cancer. A small world no? Ilona introduced me to Laura at a Mattie Miracle jewelry fundraiser and one thing led to another, and Laura invited me to campus today.
As I entered the campus, I paused in front of Healy Hall. This Gothic building is famous and has been photographed and filmed countless times, and is a national historic landmark. All of this maybe well and true, but to me this building holds personal memories. Because in front of this building Peter's MBA graduation ceremony occurred and I have photographs of him in front of it with his cap and gown. As I walked the grounds today, I thought in a few weeks, another MBA class will be graduating, yet I was not here to celebrate, I was here to talk about childhood cancer. It always comes back to cancer with me!
There is one thing I learned on day one as an adult educator...... ALWAYS learn who is in your audience. I quickly assessed that my audience was comprised of undergrads. That wasn't easy at first since people were dispersed all over the two tiered bioethics library (which is simply a gorgeous space). The med students were either on break or being matched to rotations. I was very fortunate that several of our Mattie Miracle care team at Georgetown came to support me, because they had their own professional perspectives that they could share and interject into the presentation. Sitting next to me in the above photo is Denise. Denise was Mattie's social worker. In the back row from left to right is Mary Jane (Child Life Intern), Katie (Child Life Specialist), Mary (Social Worker), and Katie (Art Therapist).
I started out my talk today with some brief quotes from the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) 2007, ground breaking report on psychosocial care. I think this really set the whole tone for why it is imperative that psychological and social services be factored into care cancer. Such support is not only important but the data indicates that these services reduce patients’ suffering, it helps them adhere to prescribed treatments, and it supports their return to health. Yet the IOM reports that:
In spite of this evidence, patients, physicians and other cancer care
providers tell us that attention to patients’ psychosocial health needs is the
exception rather than the rule in cancer care today. Many people living with
cancer report dissatisfaction with the amount and type of information they
are given about their diagnosis, available treatments, and ways to manage
their illness and health. Health care providers often fail to communicate this
information in ways that are understandable to patients. Patients also report
that their care providers do not understand their psychosocial needs; do not
consider psychosocial support an integral part of their care; are unaware of
psychosocial health care resources; and fail to recognize, adequately treat, or
refer patients to services that could help.
I included links to the shortened versions of these reports below because they are of interest. But I think they make the subject matter come alive. Which is what I tried to do for these undergraduate students today. Naturally some of them were not familiar with cancer or illness. So I had to have them visualize what it would be like for them to receive a cancer diagnosis. How would their lives change? Would they be focused on the treatment regimen and the medicines initially? Or would their initial concerns be how would this affect their life? Would they be able to go to classes? See their friends? Loss hair? Eat food? etc..... Naturally, regardless of who one is and what one's profession is, we are all human and as human beings, our first thoughts center on psychosocial concerns. I think that point got across quite well!
As is typical with all my Georgetown teaching experiences, I always find the students to be bright and engaging and today was no different. In the beginning of my talk, I asked for a show of hands regarding how many peoples' lives were touched by cancer. A few hands went up. Then I asked for a show of hands regarding how many were touched specifically by childhood cancer. Two people raised their hands. As I was talking throughout the hour, I noticed these two individuals and they seemed to be nodding in agreement with me, as if they understood and empathized with what I was saying. One young lady came up to me after class and shared with me that she lost her friend to a rare form of cancer, so she has already experienced childhood cancer and to her it isn't too rare. It only has to happen to you once, and then for you, it isn't too rare. I get it, she gets it, and as I was talking I could sense we were on the same plane.
I typically spend a good portion of my working days alone. I haven't been in the classroom in a long time. So talking in front of people isn't as easy for me as it once was. Now writing for me is much easier than talking. Yet, what I found is after dialoguing today I felt more energized and by the time I got home, I told Peter we were going out to dinner and we were buying paint to tackle painting our front hallway tomorrow. Lucky Peter!!!
http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2007/Cancer-Care-for-the-Whole-Patient-Meeting-Psychosocial-Health-Needs/PsychosocialprovidersReportBriefFINAL3web.pdf
http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2007/Cancer-Care-for-the-Whole-Patient-Meeting-Psychosocial-Health-Needs/PsychosocialpatientsReportBriefFINAL3web.pdf
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