by David Kim
Have you ever been hospitalized recently for any reason? Or have you ever visited your loved ones staying in a hospital as patients? Becoming a patient in a hospital is quite an experience. It would remind you how vulnerable you can be physically, emotionally as well as spiritually. You would need someone to be with you to take care of you. You realize you need more than just surgery and medicines for your ‘full recovery’ because you are not just a physical body. You will find yourself trying to figure out why this is happening to you, seeking support, meaning, and purpose. You need someone to be with you through this difficult time.
But people don’t always have someone available when they are in pain or a crisis. What if your parent is urgently hospitalized when you are away from the hospital? What would you expect the hospital to provide for your parent beyond medicine and nursing? Siloam Hospitals have a new program of Hospital Counseling for those in need of various support. Counselors are healthcare professionals who have a keen understanding of the needs of patients and their families, being available to sit with them, listen to them, comfort, and help them through their difficult times regarding illness and even in the process of dying. Counselors are visiting your loved ones in their hospital rooms in a quiet, humble, and professional way to listen to, and support them through their lonely and critical moments. They are helping many people with finding peace of mind, courage, and hope amid anxiety, fear, and pains. This is a new holistic program of healthcare in this town available for you and your family.
Karawaci Presbyterian Church is supporting this program through constant prayers and caring for the counselors. Even though not every counselor is a member of KPC, we believe that the counselors also need someone to talk with after dealing with many heavy cases. Counselors can remain in this tough job if they feel the presence of people groups who deeply appreciate their work and care about their well-being. KPC is reaching out to many in Lippo Village by helping the Hospital Counseling program to be more sustainable and prayerful. If your loved ones become patients in Siloam, ask the nurses about Hospital Counselors, and they will bring ‘shalom’ to the patient rooms. This is one of the things KPC is doing for the community.