NOTE: This email was sent to all Ballad Health team members from Alan Levine, Ballad Health president and CEO, on Monday, July 31, 2023.
Good afternoon:
As healthcare professionals, we are called to bring a servant’s heart to other people, and in particular, to do this during their most vulnerable times of trouble. Whether it involves the frightening prospect of facing major end-of-life issues, serious mental health challenges, the loss of a child or the suffering that comes with illness, the opportunity we have each day to bring healing and comfort to people during their difficult time is a privilege and a gift.
Every time I step into our hospitals and other care locations, I see with my own eyes the passion and compassion amongst our team members when they are at work practicing their art. I am always moved by it.
Just a few weeks ago, I was with a friend at Niswonger Children’s Hospital. He and his wife were there with their 4-year-old son who had been stung by a bee. He had a terrible reaction to it, and his face had swelled such that he was almost unrecognizable. The obvious fear was that he would have an anaphylactic reaction, rendering him unable to breathe. Now, these pediatric nurses in the ER at Niswonger Children’s Hospital are technical experts. They know how to care for children in emergencies, and absent a rare mistake or extremely unusual situation, they know their stuff.
But this one nurse in particular, when she stepped into the room, said to the little boy: “Now, you are going to have to make a very difficult decision, but it is yours to make. You can have the banana popsicle … or you can have the Spiderman coloring book … Or, now think hard about this, you can have both. What would you like to do?” The boy paused for a minute, giving it serious thought. He said, “I think I want both.” The nurse responded with, “Well, thank you for letting me know what you would like, and I’m going to go get them for you.”
Seems small. But at that moment, the nurse was simply engaging the patient at his level, and letting him be a part of his care. I later walked out with the boy and his parents. He didn’t want to leave. His words: “That was fun!” Yes … His ER visit was fun.
Compassion and kindness
In our faith journey, no matter where we come from, we are likely taught about the importance of compassion. Compassion incorporates things like kindness and sympathy, but it might help to understand the origin of the word. In Latin, “compati” means “suffer with.” Compassion means that someone else’s heartbreak becomes your heartbreak. Someone else’s suffering becomes your suffering. And sometimes, being compassionate requires that we dig deep within ourselves to understand that it is mostly best when we regard and view people not necessarily based on their actions or words, or what they say or do, or don’t say or do. Real compassion happens when we view people in light of the suffering they are going through.
We live in a society today where people who are hurt, angry or maybe suffer from things we have no visibility into, say and do things through multiple mediums, which at first seem harmful, mean, untrue, undignified, petty, childish … or pick any word you wish to describe it. Whether it is on Facebook, Twitter or any other medium, these things get amplified. And they can hurt … IF YOU DON’T FIND THE COMPASSION REQUIRED TO FORGIVE. It is very easy to be compassionate toward someone who is willing to accept it. But where compassion and kindness matter most is when you might instinctively think someone doesn’t deserve it, or they are not in a place to accept it. And it is at these times we must be most forgiving, and kind.
As I said, we each come from a different faith journey. ut no matter where you look, you will find this lesson.
In the Old Testament, for example, 1 Samuel 20:14 says: “But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed.” Exodus 33:19 says: “And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
There are so many words about compassion and kindness in the New Testament that it’s hard to single them out. But, as Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:29 teaches us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Compassion is mentioned in the daily prayers of Muslims at least 17 times per day.
What does it mean to be compassionate?
In every single interaction we have with others, we have the opportunity to show kindness and compassion. We never know what other people are dealing with in their personal or professional life, but all we see is what is right in front of us. It is not the responsibility of each of us to own other people’s problems, and that’s not my point here. But, given the environment we work in, where we are called to serve others, it is really important that in each interaction, whether with a fellow team member, a patient, a family member, a vendor, a volunteer – whomever we interact with – we offer kindness and compassion. You may never know what acts of kindness do for others, but sometimes you will be surprised by how a simple act of kindness or compassion touches others, and changes their whole trajectory.
I am proud of each person on the Ballad Health Team.
I know how hard the environment is, and I know how hard each person on our team works to contribute to the success of our mission of honoring those we serve. But it is not enough to be good at our job, or to be an expert in our field. To someone who is going through difficulty, the most important thing we each have to offer is compassion. Being technically good at what we do is the minimum expectation for each person who seeks our care. But the difference ultimately comes down to how they felt they were treated. Sometimes it is harder when the other person is not in a place to accept the compassion or kindness. But you just can’t stop trying. Those are the times when you have to keep giving.
The bottom line of my message today is this: Many people are faced with meanness, baseless assertions about their integrity or skills, and just plain nastiness. It’s all over the place, from our presidential politics to everyday activity on social media. I’ve seen ugly commentary about Ballad Health and our people. I have seen where people attack our institutions and businesses. Worse, when they personally attack other people without any thought about how those words affect others. It would be so easy to be angry about this. But, as I see all this, it seems evident to me that the only thing which really can successfully combat ugliness is kindness and compassion.
I think God has it right.
I hope you have a wonderful week ahead, and certainly hope you and your families enjoy the abundant blessings we are given to serve others.
Alan
