It's Been A Privilege
See, they said they were closing this hospital. It’s in a bad neighborhood south of Chicago. It’s losing a lot of money. They tried to give it away and nobody wanted to buy it. So they were closing it. The only sensible thing to do.
So a guy I know owns a company that does outplacement work. He scored a contract to provide outplacement services to the 1,400 people who were supposed to be out of work when this hospital closed. He wanted me to help the people there find work. I got the job, and got to work with a lot of people who’d never worked anywhere else.
There were people who did not ever have a resume. They went from Eisenhower High School to this hospital because they had an aunt who worked at the hospital. So they started working here cleaning or delivering supplies or whatever, and now they are a buyer in the purchasing department, and all of a sudden it’s not 1965 any more. They live two blocks from the hospital and never wanted or needed anything else. Their husband is on disability and they do not have other health insurance or income. They don’t want public aid or charity. They work for a living.
And this morning I met a lively, assertive red-haired lady who is a med tech in their microbiology lab. She’d worked here her whole career. And we talked a while. She has a particularly aggressive form of cancer. She required treatment. Even the relatively outstanding health insurance provided here would not cover the cost of her chemotherapy treatments.
She was very proud of the fact that her son plays drums for the music group “Kansas.” We went to the band’s website and looked at pictures of her red-haired son performing. Having a wonderful time.
The band’s website had a section about fundraising. She told me that the band agreed to stage a series of benefit concerts to raise money for her cancer treatments. So the band played, raised money, and paid for her chemotherapy and radiation, which was really expensive. She's cancer free for now.
Here are the lyrics to one of the band’s biggest hits…emphasis added.
“I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone.
all my dreams, pass before my eyes a curiosity.
dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind.”
“Same old song, just a drop of water in the endless sea.
all we do, crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see.
dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind.”
“Now, don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky.
It slips away, And all your money won't another minute buy.”
“Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind…
dust in the wind, everything is dust in the wind.”
I am so glad I was here to work with these people. Like Tom Hanks said in “Apollo 13,” “Gentlemen, it’s been a privilege flying with you.”
So a guy I know owns a company that does outplacement work. He scored a contract to provide outplacement services to the 1,400 people who were supposed to be out of work when this hospital closed. He wanted me to help the people there find work. I got the job, and got to work with a lot of people who’d never worked anywhere else.
There were people who did not ever have a resume. They went from Eisenhower High School to this hospital because they had an aunt who worked at the hospital. So they started working here cleaning or delivering supplies or whatever, and now they are a buyer in the purchasing department, and all of a sudden it’s not 1965 any more. They live two blocks from the hospital and never wanted or needed anything else. Their husband is on disability and they do not have other health insurance or income. They don’t want public aid or charity. They work for a living.
And this morning I met a lively, assertive red-haired lady who is a med tech in their microbiology lab. She’d worked here her whole career. And we talked a while. She has a particularly aggressive form of cancer. She required treatment. Even the relatively outstanding health insurance provided here would not cover the cost of her chemotherapy treatments.
She was very proud of the fact that her son plays drums for the music group “Kansas.” We went to the band’s website and looked at pictures of her red-haired son performing. Having a wonderful time.
The band’s website had a section about fundraising. She told me that the band agreed to stage a series of benefit concerts to raise money for her cancer treatments. So the band played, raised money, and paid for her chemotherapy and radiation, which was really expensive. She's cancer free for now.
Here are the lyrics to one of the band’s biggest hits…emphasis added.
“I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone.
all my dreams, pass before my eyes a curiosity.
dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind.”
“Same old song, just a drop of water in the endless sea.
all we do, crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see.
dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind.”
“Now, don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky.
It slips away, And all your money won't another minute buy.”
“Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind…
dust in the wind, everything is dust in the wind.”
I am so glad I was here to work with these people. Like Tom Hanks said in “Apollo 13,” “Gentlemen, it’s been a privilege flying with you.”
posted by John Bernat @ 12:58 PM
3 Comments:
At Thu May 01, 07:34:00 AM PDT,
Anonymous said…
As part of the team about which John speaks, I'm humbled and touched by the employees at St. Francis Hospital. Most all the people with whom I spoke, aren't 'just nurses, or CNAs or cafeteria workers', as they were inclined to describe themselves. These are very caring and committed folks, who truly believe in what they are doing, and are so busy doing it, that they have never stopped for a moment to reflect on the literally thousands of lives they have touched. I tried in some way, to remind them of their contributions and talents and vocations, and to help them carry that with them, wherever they go.
Last evening, I had the occasion with two other friends, to pause, thank the universe for, and to have a moment of gratitude for all the wonderful things the St. Francis community is and has done.
There are miracles in front of our eyes every day, if only we can slow down enough to see them.
At Thu May 01, 09:03:00 AM PDT,
Anonymous said…
As a member of the team on which J. worked, I can honestly say that the experience working to serve this group of amazing health care workers, reminds me that the country is built on the efforts of each person, no matter what role they play in an organization.
The people I had the privilege to serve at St. Francis, are truly committed to what they do - it's a real VOCATION for so many of them.
This is a sort of 'death' for many who've never worked anywhere else in their lifetime, and even for those who have not only been employed by St. Francis during their health care careers. It's a true community there. Such is the stuff of the lives of the 'regular' folk, who go into their days without big splashes or accolades, or drawing attention like Paris or Brittney. Helping them to move through the process was and is a privilege and an honor.
At Thu May 01, 09:37:00 AM PDT,
Anonymous said…
As a member of the team on which J. worked, I can honestly say that the experience working to serve this group of amazing health care workers, reminds me that the country is built on the efforts of each person, no matter what role they play in an organization.
The people I had the privilege to serve at St. Francis, are truly committed to what they do - it's a real VOCATION for so many of them.
This is a sort of 'death' for many who've never worked anywhere else in their lifetime, and even for those who have not only been employed by St. Francis during their health care careers. It's a true community there. Such is the stuff of the lives of the 'regular' folk, who go into their days without big splashes or accolades, or drawing attention like Paris or Brittney. Helping them to move through the process was and is a privilege and an honor.
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