NEH Comparitive Perspectives on Health, Illness and Healing

Well some of us met  to discuss Rita Charon’s book Narrative Medicine- on Wednesday March 13  as this book is very intense

We decided to focus on Intro and Chapter 6 – Close Reading

Roxanna who is not just one of our Fellows but attending the Narrative Medicine Program @ Columbia and is Rita’s student is leading our discussion.

Roxanna had some wonderful insights from both a cultural perspective and from a writer and Non-medical persons point of view.

We are going to continue our discussion on 3/20 as some us couldn’t attend on 3/13 and others were still digesting Chapter 6.

The fellows were quite willing to share how they felt about examples of the stories from the patients in the book.

But grasping “close reading” meant we had to read more closely! As we found as we

went over the meanings of the steps involved in close reading – for to understand this will help us unlock the patient’s stories and assist us in writing a cohesive narrative as well.

All agreed to continue this discussion on 3/20 when we will end the culture and writing section with the book

When the Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

about a Hmong Child Lia Lee.

A fascinating story of missteps and misunderstanding- Lia finally passed away last year. At the time of her death the hospital allowed “Shamans” and “faith healers” to attend not just Hmong patients and but  other  ethnic groups when they were ill at the bedside.

To be continued… Please post your experiences as we continue on the journey together.

On Wednesday the NEH fellows met for a writing work-shop led by Jim Stubenrauch & Joy Jacboson

prior to the meting we were asked to read a Chapter from

“Teaching the Other Self” from the Essential Don Murray and selected reading from “Writing as a Way of Healing ” from Louise De Salvo

When the day arrived some of us from the” Science side ” of the fellows were filled with trepidation. In fact, when we filled the room we split into two groups – the Humanities sat across from us on the Left as you entered,  the School of Professional Studies faculty chose the right side of the room and so the faculty filled the oblong conference table. If I were Freudian I would say we chose the side of the brain we use most often in our professional lives.

We were asked to read poetry aloud – Joy brought some selections from a writer who published about life experiences,  her cancer, her culture , death..

Some of us had not read any poetry since College or even High School-

It was very moving and we became closer as we shared our thoughts and feelings.

During  the writing exercise portion of the work shop we concentrated and wrote freely.

Our voices breaking free and clamoring to be heard. We shared  intimate moments in our lives along with the  mundane and  almost comic.  What does it mean to be a writer? I was told that  my “authentic voice” was heard and the listener could imagine that the narrator was a 10 year old child.

That validated my feelings and my authorship of that particular piece. Yet, I still do not think I am a writer- but I can tell my story- and that is what we are try to accomplish

Freeing our students to tell their stories and then to be able to listen and to “close read” their patients stories for the subtext the unspoken.

From the Humanities Professor who teaches speech and acting she said the students are told to act the feelings not the lines- What is not being said the unstated-

That was so amazing to me- I do try to impress upon my students that the patient will tell you what is wrong with them , if you know how to ask the “right questions” and  listen to the answers.

But, there is more- listening to what the patient doesn’t say – what is going on beneath the spoken words- that is often what separates a good diagnostician from and excellent one. We may label it intuition or “critical thinking ” and ask can we teach it

and Wednesday I learned that Actors do in fact learn it- why not Health Care Professionals?

To Listen to Observe the unspoken to act the emotions not the dialogue.

Well It was an incredible day-

I am sure we all had ahhha moments and there were other “take aways”.

I know that this experience is broadening my horizons and already impacting my classroom teaching. I opened my Community Health Nursing  Class with one of the Poems ( someone please send me the writers  name again I want to order her book!)  we discussed the impact of cancer on the patient & family members, the role of the CHN. A poem helped us discuss ethics,  values, death and dying, cost of health care and managed care and culture. My class was very moved.

I will post the reading resources  under documents so all can share them.

I hope my “Fellow Fellows” will share some of their thoughts as well.