RIVERVIEW HOSPITAL – Sometimes, you don’t have to look far to find a rich tapestry of kindness.
It’s week two of putting out the Two River Times from my 5th Floor South office, where the good doctors, nurses and staff are completely focused on getting me home. That’s the goal, but I have to admit the 5th floor bonding experience deepens despite the unrelenting need to check vitals, draw blood, administer breath treatments and meds. Sleep doesn’t come easily in a hospital. It’s actually akin to a sleep deprivation marathon.
Kidding aside, you see human suffering and care up close, here, and thankfully, the defining threads are compassion and civility, so needed when you’re feeling vulnerable. (Thank you, Michael from Guest Relations!)
The sense of community also deepened this week because in a community hospital, well, you know everybody’s name. For instance, one of my nurses, Siobhan, and I watched our sons perform in a 5th grade production of ‘Oliver.’ They are now grown men. A dear friend and former neighbor is just across the hall. Some other friends were on 3 South. Well, you get the idea.
“I love what I do,” says Culver. “It’s not work. It’s fun.”
Animal-assisted therapy programs offer comfort and companionship for patients. An improved emotional well- being can promote healing, advocates say.
Captain looks forward to his weekly trips to the oncol- ogy floor at both hospitals. “He’s a very elegant and dig- nified dog,” Culver said. “He’s a very gentle soul.”
I’ve also met new folks – a lovely dog named Captain Courageous, a 2-year old male Standard Poodle, and his handler, Leslie Culver, head of dog therapy. She’s a woman who has found a way to pay it forward. And that’s hopefully what we’re all about.
If I am well in time, I will be helping to do something similar by moderating a Crossroads editorial board meeting scheduled here
Friday, not too far from my 5th floor office. If so, officials from Red Bank, Fair Haven, the county, and state, as well as representatives of the Red Bank School System, RiverCenter, Meridian Health Care and Newport Capital will gather to strengthen the fabricate of pedestrian and cyclist safety. That’s if the docs say OK and I certainly hope they will.
It’s important work. This week, John Burton, our senior reporter, wrote three exemplary stories, the first being about national safety trends in cities, which advances intelligent ideas we can incorporate here. John has also written about ideas from local residents who have read our stories and became engaged. And John has interviewed those who represent the handicapped because when we raise sidewalks to calm traffic we can also limit handicapped access as an unintended outcome so it’s important we look at the consequences of every solution.
After the meeting Friday, we’ll be planning a public forum on this issue in Red Bank proper. We’ll invite the general public and officials to share ideas, all the while encouraging them to be positive and focused on the greater good.
Community is great isn’t it? What’s better than a commitment by people who live in the area to take care of each other? Like Riverview. Like the Safety Task Force. Like The Two River Times.
Let’s have coffee. Jody Calendar jcalendar@tworivertimes.com 732-245-9181
