Like people, healing comes in many shapes and sizes. While most maladies respond to modern technology and the right mix of meds, sometimes a little spiritual TLC makes all the difference.

Caring for the Whole Person

Addressing a patient’s physical, mental and spiritual needs can be a tall order, especially on a hectic day in Hanford Community Medical Center’s med/surg unit. But when a nurse like Becky Hanson submits herself to God’s will, anything is possible.

“God arranges things beyond our control and uses us,” says Hanson. “We need to obey. That’s the hard part.”

In Hanson’s estimation, God recently brought about an especially unusual series of events. For one, she was scheduled to work four days in a row, which is rare. Then a terminally ill cancer patient was placed in her care. For some reason, she was particularly concerned about the man’s spiritual condition.

“I asked if he knew Jesus, and if he hadn’t replied I would have left it at that,” recalls Hanson.

But the man did reply. In fact, he peppered Hanson with questions for several days. On the fourth day, he prayed with her and accepted Jesus as his personal savior.

Six weeks later, Hanson received a phone call from the man’s sister. He had passed away. Despite her sorrow, his sister had joy in her voice. She thanked Hanson for spending those extra moments with her brother. He had been a different person in his final weeks — choosing to be baptized, changing his behavior and repairing relationships with his family.

Sometimes a simple question makes all the difference.

Breathing New Life into Wound Care

When Willie Brand, a diabetic since 1987, came to Paradise Valley Hospital, he already had lost part of one leg to the disease and was facing further amputation due to poor circulation and an ulcer.

“I was depressed,” said Brand. “I was unable to wear my prosthesis, unable to walk. I was afraid of gangrene setting in like it had before.”

As Brand would learn, the latest technology was available just around the corner at the PVH Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine, which houses the only hyperbaric chamber in San Diego’s South Bay.

Over the course of seven weeks, he took daily “dives” into the hyperbaric chamber, which delivers oxygen directly to the tissue. When oxygen levels in the bloodstream rise, the body is better able to grow new cells, fight infection and create new blood vessels.

Thanks to this unique treatment, Brand is walking again and doing the things he loves — like preaching at the New Heart Christian Community Church.

“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was able to heal Willie’s leg after many other treatments failed,” reports Marc Hare, M.D., medical director of the wound clinic.

“The fight for my leg was a challenge, and I won with the help of Dr. Hare,” says Brand. “Everybody at the clinic was wonderful. It’s a good, Christian environment, and they were very encouraging.”

Sometimes simple Christian caring makes all the difference.