published in Khaleej Times on Nov 11, 2009
I know a man who has seen a thousand doctors. Let us call him Thomas. He is 80 years old but even so, a thousand is a huge number. In a year, he would have seen 12 new doctors on the average. A thousand different doctors means perhaps 20,000 consultations. Sometimes Thomas sees three different doctors in one afternoon.
Some of Thomas’s friends are doctors. Some of his doctors become his friends. His doctors range from the junior to the senior, from those in government hospitals to those in private practice, from generalists to specialists. Men, women, foreigners, graduates from local universities; he has seen them all. Sometimes he sees them just to measure his blood pressure.
Sometimes it is for a more serious matter like an unexplained chest pain. He has spent about $230,000 in his lifetime on doctor visits, blood tests, medications, X-rays, scans and minor surgeries.
He has no regrets. Others may splurge on flashy cars or the services of a sommelier, but for Thomas it is doctors, doctors and more doctors. Sadly, Thomas was diagnosed with lung cancer recently and was referred to me. I wonder how many more oncologists he has seen or will be seeing.
Thomas came across as a well adjusted gentleman. He did not exhibit any verbal or physical tic. He spoke well. He gave his medical history clearly and answered most of my questions willingly and appropriately. Having gained his trust, I decided to explore his need to see so many doctors. He was forthright about it. He is afraid to die.
So many of us, with or without cancer, are not willing to admit to our fear of death. We couch our fear like this: “Doctor, I am not afraid to die but I fear the process of dying.” Others of a more poetic bent will say, “Oh, death, where is thy sting?” It is a badge of honor we proudly wear on our sleeves.
Thomas was afraid of death, and he was not afraid to admit it. That’s courage. He was going to do his best to postpone it. Of course, seeing a thousand doctors does not help. It may even be harmful. Conflicting opinions lead to confusion and anxiety. Excessive and unnecessary X-rays and CT scans increase the chance of radiation- induced cancer.
Apart from his fear of death, Thomas also disclosed a distrust of doctors. He was seeking as many opinions as possible before deciding on treatment. He had his doubts. Now you know why I gave Thomas his moniker.
Is Thomas suffering from hypochondriasis? The condition is characterised by fears that minor bodily symptoms may indicate a serious illness. The hypochondriac constantly examines himself; self-diagnosis becomes a preoccupation. He expresses doubt and disbelief in the doctor’s diagnosis. Thomas has some traits of a hypochondriac but that is too easy a label to stick on him. Thomas had a CT scan of his chest two years ago that disclosed a shadow in his lung. He was treated for pneumonia. The possibility of cancer was excluded when most of the shadow disappeared with a course of antibiotics. The doctors should have gone the extra mile to exclude cancer with a PET/CT scan and a biopsy.
Some may diagnose Thomas with thanatophobia — an undue obsession with death (especially one’s own) to the extent that it becomes psychologically crippling. Again, this would be too convenient a label. Thomas is a successful entrepreneur and is socially adept.
I really don’t know. We tend to medicalise every little symptom and discomfort. From an infant’s excessive crying to teenage angst to a wage earner’s blues. There is a pill for everything: insomnia, erectile dysfunction and the sadness of bereavement. Perhaps Thomas has the time and money to see many doctors and he feels good doing this. It is therapeutic for him, if you can forgive my use of the word. It may be no different from some others I know who spend as much as Thomas does on audiovisual systems or eating unmentionable parts of endangered animals.
I shall help Thomas fight his cancer. I will dissuade him from unnecessary blood tests and scans. I will not judge him. Most of all, I will not medicalize his fear of death. It is about being human. There is no pill for it.
Albert Lim Kok Hooi is an oncologist based in Kuala Lumpur
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you Albert Lim Kok Hoo!
this story,indeed,touched my heart.
Im a surviver of cancer.Please excuse my english,im norwegian and a bit dyslectik…good to practise anyway..
I just felt very strong that this man,bless him,is a victim of todays society.
Its so easy to loose trust.
easy to get trapped in fear and loose control.
Its so human ,so, simple.
When this kind of trauma happen to us, its very important to keep it simple….
The key is to openly accept the pearl in the mud….to welcome whatever comes,even death….die before you die.
Cancer can be a gift..
A key to many deeper issues,lying under the surface..through cancer we have the chance to recognize them and most of all….a chance for healing on all levels at a higher plane…
Cancer was for me a great door opener..to an initiation,confronting my demons,giving up fals ideas of who i thought i was,,,,,any way…always look upon the great gift in all things….they can be absence for the eye,but deep down,wow,,,a secret seed of enlightment for the soul…too grow out of the mud,becoming the pearl..
It is nice to know that a doctor can think like that and is suppose to really understand human suffering or is it? My father is a prostate cancer patient in his 70′s and I can relate to some of the comments- that there are rarely any doctors that I have come across in my last 10 years accompanying my father to doctors who can talk straight and guide you and treat you like a human being! We never expected them to cure my father of cancer, only their guidance but getting that piece of advice became a distressing experience.
I have been thinking a bout the meaning of words and names and I take notice of them more and more each day.
Un soulier in French means shoe
A shoe is used for walking
Soulier comes from the Latin word subtelare = courbe de la plante du pied – curve of the sole of the foot -(Arch)
In English if you divide the name it becomes SOUL = ame
sou in french means wealth
lier = link
I can see a link between wealth and soul and the reason for walking.
It makes sense to me.
Bjs
J’ai pense a la signification des noms et des mots et je fais de plus en plus attention a cela.
Un soulier est utilise pour marcher.
Soulier vient du latin subtelare – courbe de la plante du pied -(ARCH)
En anglais le mot, quand il est divise = soul – ame
sou = richesse
lier = link
Je vois un lien entre la richesse et l’ame et la raison pour marcher, ca a du sens pour moi.
Bjs
Marcher est une activite agreable.
Si on regarde le mot marcher de plus pres en francais il contient le mot m archer- c’est l’equivalent de l’archer pour moi – le corps est en harmonie avec soi-meme.
On bouge au rythme de la vie et ..en plus c’est gratuit.
Walking is a pleasant activity.
Looking closer at the word walking in French (m archer) it contains the quality of an archer in it- when the body is in harmony with oneself and moves with life’s rythme.
Marcher = getting in touch with nature, a healthy way towards recovery …and it’s FREE.
I know it works for me.
With love
Marie-Christine
Congratulations to Dr Albert Lim Kok “Hooi” for showing so much humanity.
“Our body, a mini-society in equilibrium
“This image is a lot more than a simple parabola.
The Chinese Energetics understood this some 3,000 years ago with its five elements’ law.
The kidney is the guardian of the ancestral memory.
the liver is the Energy and creative factory,
the lungs deal with relation,
the heart makes love moves,
the pancreas ensures the equilibrium,
there is also the gall-bladder who is the Peace Judge of the inner reference,
the organs of the senses provide the perception and communication.
On several parts of our body, one can find the whole of our body (iris, hand, foot, ear, inside the nose, tongue, ) the aim of our functioning is to maintain this equilibrium. Medicine calls it homeostasis. From this equilibrium depends our good health.
It is the definition itself.
The body can then be seen as a society in equilibrium. Let’s talk without taking too much risk about the analogy of human society.
- The immune system can be compared to the Police and the Army, also to Justice,
- the muscular system fits with the working world and also the setting-up of action and fulfilment,
- the cerebral system is the Government,
- the digestive system is similar to the agricultural one and allows using the wealth that have been given to us to develop,
- the hormonal system is linked with culture and feelings,
- the pulmonary system is linked with the world and ecology,
- the kidney represents structures, constitution, the patrimony, our integrity and our identity,
- the heart , of course, talks of love , sharing, it is also the prime-mover for life,
The illness reminds us of social conflicts, crisis, wars and transformations.
All this together , that came to us after millions of years of evolution go hands in hands with wisdom.
Nothing happens by chance.
To understand illness as a wisdom would allow us to understand that the troubles of the world could only be illnesses that carry solutions.”Dr Olivier Soulier
Jung has said very well :”You will not heal from your illnesses, your illnesses will heal you.”
I find this brilliant article written by Dr Soulier of Nantes and wanted to share it with you. It helped me to understand myself better.
Love
Marie-Christine
I’m speakless…it’s also all real. The way we look & move & talk & react etc is the mirror of what’s inside of us. I also know now that we all need some age to understand.
This is a beautifull article to share, thanks.
Brigitte.
Dear Paulo,
What’s inside of us is part of the invisible.
We should take more notice of it.
The war is inside of us. We are the one responsible for our body,
I wish it was explained from an early age in schools how to care for your body and how to breathe properly. It will save a lot of health problems and a lot of tax payers money that could be spent onto a better education and health system for our children grand children parents grand parents.
Without a healthy body you cannot function properly.
It makes a lot of sense to me ,
I believe it is one of the most pressing issue we are facing.
As Dr Soulier says we are carrying our own tree in our body and the fruit cannot ripen if we don’t have the right tools to look after it. Education is one of them. I would like to know whether there is a possibility to do something about that please Paulo,
Thank you.
Marie-Christine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?=UaVIuy-ZMiY&feature=related
Caroline Myss on Chakras
Le Dr Olivier Soulier explique dans cette article la relation du corps lorsqu’elle est en equilibre et ce qui se passe lorsque la maladie s’installe.
“Notre corps, une mini-societe en equilibre.
Cette image est beaucoup plus qu’une simple parabole.
L’energetique chinoise avait deja compris cela il y 3000 ans dans sa loi des cinq elements.
“Le rein est le gardien de la memoire ancestrale. Le foie est l’usine a energie et a creation. Le poumon s’occupe de la relation.
Le coeur fait circuler l’amour. La rate assure l’equilibre. Il y a encore la vesicule biliaire qui est le juge de paix de la reference interieure. Les organes des sens assurent la perception et la communication.
Sur plusieurs zones de notre corps se trouve resumee la totalite de notre corps (iris, main,pied, oreille, face interieur du nez,langue..) Le but de notre fonctionnement est de maintenir cet equilibre, la medecine appelle cela l’homomeostasie. C’est de cet equilibre que depend notre bonne sante,c’en est meme la definition>
Le corps peut donc se concevoir comme une societe en equilibre. Poussons sand trop de risque l’analogie avec la societe humaine.
- le systeme immunitaire est semblable a la police et a l’armee interieure , a la justice aussi.
- Le systeme musculaire correspond au monde du travail, mais aussi a la mise en action et la realisation.
- le systeme cerebral est le gouvernement.
- le systeme digestif correspond a l’agriculture et permet l’utilisation des richesses qui nous sont donnees pour nous construire,
-le systeme hormonal est lie a la culture et aux emotions
- le systeme pulmonaire est relie au monde et a l’ecologie
- le rein represente les structures , la constitution, le patrimoine, notre integrite et notre identite.
- le coeur, evidemment , parle d’amour, de partage, c’est aussi le moteur de la vie.
- La maladie rappelle les conflits sociaux, les crises, les guerres et les mutations.
Tout cet ensemble , parvenu jusqu’a nous apres des millions d’annees d’evolution, fonctionne avec sagesse. Rien n’arrive par hasard. Apprehender la maladie comme une sagesse nous permettrait de comprendre que les troubles du monde ne seraient que des maladies porteuses de solutions.
Jung l’avait bien dit:”Vous ne guerirez pas de vos maladies, ce sont vos maladies qui vous gueriront.”
Olivier Soulier medecin
“Tout notre arbre est en nous. La solution etait dans le fruit.” Dr Alain Soulier
The whole tree is in us. The solution was in the fruit.
Dr Alain Soulier
Hi Paulo
My dad and I are certainly honoured that you have shared his article on your wonderful blog. You have made him a very happy man. I am not sure if there is a word limit but could you possibly correct the title/web address as my dad’s name is Albert Lim Kok “Hooi” and not Albert Lim Kok Hoo.
We must understand that death is part of our life. One must see it as the completion of a chapter of our existence. Our physical body will no longer exist but our energy will continue to live and will re-appear some where else in a different time and form. If we consider death a natural event then we will not be afraid of it. There is nothing in this world that will last for ever therefore one should make the best it and always trying to be a good human being. This way of thinking will help one to accept death and be prepared when it is time to leave our bodies and move on.
Thomas my heart and thoughts are with you to help you defeat your illness. You must have faith and you will be prepared for anything that life has planned for you.
Paulo, thank you for sharing this.
Alfredo
I have the opposite experience. Because I have spiritual experiences my physician thinks that there might be something… But yet, I seem so rational, so how can this be? And I tell him again and again that his scientific world is too limited, his medical education is not sufficient to deal with people who believes in Jesus and guardian angels…. So I bring him some litterature, like “Warrior of the Light” by Paulo Coelho, articles, and so on – just to help him a little on his way to enlightenment. :-) But no, this is of no interest to him. But I will never take a single pill just because I have been lucky enough to have a few spiritual experiences. What is considered a little odd in our culture, is valued among native peoples living in and close to nature. Also, some Christian communities value these experiences. But I could never take drugs to achieve these experiences. I have too much respect for the chemical balance in our brains.
Since my first diagnosis of cancer in 2005 I am in treatment by the same doctor. He said he will do his best and I simply trusted him out of my intuition. When I had a recidive two years ago I heard also other opinions – the question was another chemo or only radiation – without a result what to do, the one doctors said chemo yes the others said no. Once more I heard to my intuition (I said no) and stayed by my first doctor (who first said no it isn’t nessecary but then proposed a light chemo, because of the other doctors opinions). I decided to have no second chemo but radiation. Now it is clear that I was right to follow my intuition.
It makes sense to ask for different opinions, but in the end you have to trust one doctor and first of all yourself.
My doctor now goes into retirement. I hope I will soon find a new doctor I trust simply out of my intuition.
Thank you Paulo,
Enjoyed the story, honesty of Thomas’ feelings about death, and doctor’s humanity in this article. My heart went out to him, and am wondering how he is doing right now. Perhaps he might find this Blog to read, and feel comforted by more compassion and love of the readers here.
A first experience with death, was at about 7 years old, when a friend’s father died. Completely bewildered by this word and what it might mean. No one would talk about it. I went to the praire for answers, watched clouds and realized that my friend’s dad had vanished to the eye, gone to be with god. I could understand wanting to be with god, but did not understand ‘why’ he wanted to leave when he did. And wondered how long he would stay with god before coming back to tell stories of his adventure.
So at the time, my friend and I did not comprehend why everyone was so sad. But we saw together in time, that her dad was not coming home to her. And special events that her family celebrated, were especially difficult.
Then, a few years ago, I turned on the radio – not something I normally did. A broadcast was on, about raising awareness of childhood cancer. The announcer was interviewing a little 6 year old boy, chatting about the hospital stays, his fight, and then asked the boy,’Are you afraid?’
He said cheerfully ‘oh NO, because only two things can happen. Either god will take the cancer from me, or the cancer will take me to god’.
Just before my dad died, the doctor asked what she could do, to make him more comfortable. He asked for a sex-change operation, then chuckled ‘because he heard women live longer than men’. He could see that she was feeling really sad and was able to cheer her up! We had a huge party for my dad, because he loved parties.
The the night he died, he sent everyone home but asked me to stay behind. He told me to take his little blue suitcase home with me, in the morning. I got him comfy as could be, pulled up a chair, and put my head into the crook of his arm. The nurse came in and woke me up a few hours later. My dad had died.
The little blue suitcase was heavy but did not care to open it until later that day when alone.
My dad’s humor lived on into death. In the the suitcase was dad’s watch (it had stopped) and also, it was FULL of jelly beans (my favorite candy). I smiled and said ‘thank you’, then cried for two days.
I am not afraid of death. But love living, still have things to do, see, and experience!!!!!!!!
Lots of Love to All, Jane : ) xo
I nearly died many years ago and at the time I instinctively knew I was dying but I wasn’t worried, I don’t believe in panicking because it doesn’t help anything. Anyway, I think the doctors believed that I was depressed and that was the reason I didn’t react – but it wasn’t that at all. Even my mother started to question me about it.
BUT!! I have to say that I am very fearful of any of my loved ones dying.
Actually, my thoughts then were that it is up to God whether I stick around or whether I move on. I think my belief that the spirit lives on is what makes me not worry so much about death.
What did Jesus say? To conquer death, you only have to die.
[kaltura-widget wid="ww64zbkixs" size="comments" /]
Great article, but above all great doctor, he look at Thomas as a “human” and not as a “case”. He also shows respect for Thomas way of being and is ready to help him as much as he can within his area of expertise. He recognize Thomas fear to die and does not take advantage of it by recommending him unnecessary treatments.
loveNlight
Gabi
This is one side of the coin. Myself I go to doctor only if I cant stand the pain, and it was the case now. And I should go, for my situation was serious. I was thinking what the use of such big pains. But than I remembered that if I could stand the pain, I never go to doctor. In the tv we see each day people dying from wrong diagnosises or cures. More, one need lot of money for checkings and medicines.
I was thinking that going on foot in rain, with umbrella was sparing money. Because I got my feet wet, I got a serious illness, need cure, stay in bed, feel big big pains. I spent much more money on medicines and doctor than if I had bought several pairs of luxury shoes,and the irony now for moving I use taxi, for I have such pains that cant walk.
I know too many x-rays are dangerous. For my case again, I had back problems, terrible pains, think because once I was falling on the stairs. But doctor do not sent me to ray, for I have no kids, and if I did I could have lost the possibility to ever have.
So I did a treatment more or less on guessing.
About the fear of dead, think majority have, we dont know what expect us there. I have read that a person could not sleep might be suffering by such fear, because falling asleep is a bit like dying, we lost control, and such people are afraid not to wake up anymore.
What to say?
I think human body is so sensitive, we can take care , but little thing might harm us easily.
Wish everybody a happy healthy life
Love
Alexandra
Dear Paulo, thanks for article.
It’s great you support Thomas. I admire his aspiration to live, his courage and will power. This is so amazing.
It has this undertone of fiction in writing. Loved the way different patterns of human behavior and views that have been highlighted.
Quizás los estudios del Dr. Hamer le podrían ayudar.
http://www.webislam.com/?idv=415
Dear Paulo,
interesting argument. Thanatophobia, being afraid of death, thinking that the pain at the chest is an infarct, they are all part of my life and I’m only 25. Sometimes, it happened to be so afraid about death that I found myself thinking about suicide, but all the times I had this thought it went away as the sand of the desert blew by the wind. Leaves behind only the grainy taste into your mouth. I love life and this is the reason why I’m afraid of death. I wonder: if I could live for ever would it be so bad? Would I take a pill which gives me eternal life?
Irina
Even though such things are not rares they still exist, and death of course is something who touches us all. We all are going to die, but our faith, the way we feel or think makes us fear more or less death.
I m sorry for your friend, mostly for what he is going through. It is clear that he has had a difficult life. There is no joy in keep checking and worrying all the time about health. Nor especially now, with cancer in lungs. Being conscious every day of your life that that it is one day less in your life, that your times here are ending and that who knows were you are going to terminate your voyage, it is horrible.
I usually keep joking and tell my friends that I don’t have a long life, even though I believe that, just because I know that it doesn’t matter how long I live but how I live, but anyway life time changes a lot from death.
We are so lucky on not knowing the days we have left. Can you imagine…Just keep counting the days we have left, and the closer we go the less we want to live. That man need your help more than anything on earth, and he is lucky to have it.
If you have never experienced something like this one, well I think life will bring something new to you Paulo.
I think that you have decided well in not judging him. Help him in each important step of him as if you were a parent to him. As if he needs your wise advices, and even your reproaches if you’ll feel it to. Never judge him. I don’t know why God chooses to make some people to be aware of the ending of their journey in Earth, but it is so difficult for them.
Those seem the days when all what we know, feel or believe, are putted in hard testing, and sometimes it feels like failing.
Maybe You don’t need at all, all what I wrote here, but I just felt I had to write down all what I just sad.
I believe that you are going to be a very big help to him Paulo. Your wisdom and kindness shall help him make it through.
Love
Olta
“Присно,вчера и ныне/по склону движемся мы./Смерть-это только равнины./Жизнь-холмы,холмы.”(Бродский)
Thank you for reminding of the miracle of hope, dearest Paulo.
In my recent immersions in the worlds of Tony Robbins, Wayne Dyer & Mary Williamson (mostly through youtube and library books) I’ve found they too are fascinated by the number of cases of people who heal from cancer diagnosis that are not mediatized. (I won’t get into the media aspect of the discussion, it is not the topic now). But some of the bits I collected that remained with me are:
- there are tens of people who after being diagnosed managed to fight and win against the disease. Very little research shows some of the common aspects they have: fighting the doctor verdict, developing a belief it can be beaten and fighting to surround themselves with proves of successes or similar beliefs, a strong network of faith, hope and love.
- doctors admit when dealing with life threatening issues they give a worse diagnosis than the reality. some fear being sues for wrong diagnosis if the patient does not take ‘the treatment’ and implications seriously, some just want to make sure the patient is shocked enough to embrace the solutions provided. The paradox is that these people passionate about healing people and saving lives may create self-fulfilling prophecies of death.
- most recent studies in genetics show the body cells regenerate completely within the cycle of a year. the rate of regeneration decreases with age, but the cell life-span remains the same. Which means if you have a tumor in your body for more than a year, your body re-generated that tumor. this also means your body can maybe generate something else instead of cancerous cells, for example. How the mind, fighting a diagnose, love and hope lay a role into this, we’re still touching the tip of the mystery.
(the same studies show we as humans have around 60,000 thoughts a day!. shockingly, 90% are repetitive thoughts of the day before or what we picked up from society/family around us). They’re still working on correlations between all these findings.
I like the doctor’s humanity. I also like Thomas’ fight. It could be after all, the fight of any one of us. Don’t give up Thomas, believe in your miracles!
Embracing all with love,
Anca
I like this post to. It is his hobby maybe? He is a connesuir of the body temple. I love this line at th end of the post abotu the fear of death.
“There is no pill for it. “
Very interesting read, thank you for sharing it!
Well I have visited quite few doctors though this has been more to do with me living and moving around.
Dr, Heinz was yes, full of beans about his theories.
Dr “Death” was NOT my grandma’s favourite.
Dr Leg knew more on the subject.
and now i’m thinking of going to see Dr Th-ake
;o)
“We tend to medicalise every little symptom and discomfort”… we tend to put labels to generalize.
But yes, there is no pills for being a human. Being a human is being a human–it can never be generalized :)
Thanks for the sharing–love this post :)
First, second opinion is enough. Then, the events matched with doctor shopping. Then, he entered into a dilemma.
Kuala Lumpur! my country :)
“its about being human, theres no pill for it” nuff said.
Thanks for sharing Mr. Cohelo. If there is something that is absolutely true is death. Human fear to death is natural but injustified if we just focus in living with love and wholeness whenever death comes it’s just the right time.
Dear Paulo and all Warriors of Light,
I feel like I should share something personal with you because this fear of death is such a tabu and it won’t get better if we don’t talk about it. Maybe the fact that we don’t like talking about it makes the fear just worse. So I’m glad Paulo inspires us to talk about topics we usually try to avoid.
So here is my story (summarized shortly):
Today is the 30th anniversary of my mum’s death. She died when I was almost one year old. She died of cancer when she was only a little older than I am now. Deep inside of me I am scared of my 30ies because I fear that I die the same age as my mum did although it is of course not very realistic. I tend to be hypochondriac and I don’t see it as an illness but as a normal result of circumstances. No medicine can help here but the strengths of my own thoughts. A very special person in my life once told me something that helped me lose a great amount of my fear of dying the same age as my mum. This person told me that I was actually very lucky to be alive!! Because my mum died only 11 months after my birth!!!! It was a great luck that I got the chance to arrive in this world in time!!! And as a Warrior of Light we know that this wasn’t luck or coincidence :) I was meant to be born and meant to live and I’m going to live as long as I am meant to live and I am meant to live this life fully and that is all that I and all people who fear death should be doing. I think if we live our lives fully we will get less frightened of death.
So, shall we not just all try and do this? :)
Love,
Barbara
B – your conclusion made me smile ;o)
Thank you for sharing that article. I am aware that there are too much “etiquettes”, that each year new troubles are “identified” with symptoms that direct to a treatment (medical treatment). I fought many years for me and my kid at school. So easy to say this kid has a trouble of attention, a trouble of anxiety, a trouble of this and that, and they try to find and put an etiquette so to bring the child to take a medication, and the goal is only to facilitate the work. Loved to see that that doctor has at hearth to help that patient with all that he can for this cancer, that he will try to help him not to fall into all unnecessary procedures and that he will not judge … that would be so great to see the same in the school vision and way of dealing with children who, has any other persons. There are no pill for the fear of death, and I truly believe that that fear is very present in many “troubles” encountered. So, I make the link that when we go on the path of discovering who we truly are, we become aware of the beauty of who we are, not exterior but interior. During that voyage, it brought me back to face the dark sides of myself, and also the fears, and the fear of death was there. When passed that part, when walking that part, reunification, incarnation of who we truly are, and then able to live and develop a security in death, an acceptance of that stage that is part of a soul’s journey. It is so easy to say rationally things but deep inside, the truth lies and that truth will surface one day or the other … Cordially, Jojo.
WE??! You colonizer you.
http://www.dyalog.de/pdf/TruthStarts.pdf
I am tired off reading a thousand opinions. I willl go for a walk now, in five minutes. It´s a wonderbeautiful day and my eyes and ears yearn for something else. Then I will do my other daily meaningful practices. Allone.
..to walk is good..want to say sorry,
I myself am the colonizer at times..
Thank you so much!!!!
This was one of the best text I have read in very long time!!!
LOVE YOU SO MUCH GRANDMA
LOVE TINA
And as Woody Allen said:
“It’s not that I’m afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Death (1975) p. 63.
Clever, pointed, and clear words coming from a doctor. However, I do take issue with this portion of the piece… “So many of us, with or without cancer, are not willing to admit to our fear of death. We couch our fears like this: “Doctor, I am not afraid to die but I fear the process of dying.”
I feel exactly that way, say nearly the same thing, when asked, and actually mean it. I welcome passing to the next dimension. I have the peace of knowing there is more beyond this life and await the extended journey. However, I don’t welcome the potential mode of transportation that gets me there; such as, being shot, stabbed, beaten… disease, accident, etc. Who would? So, although there may very well be folks who tote such a statement as an overcoat to fear, there are just as many who bare honest disclosure with the same.
eu acredito que ter medo da morte e normal e mais comum do que se imagina.
as pessoas vão para a igreja com medo de morrer e ir para o inferno e isto e cada vez mais nítido, não e por respeito a sua religião nem nada ,é simplesmente pelo medo de morrer.
agora visitar muitos medicos para tardar a morte , não sei se e o certo,
eu acredito que a vida deve ser vivida com qualidade e não por quantidade. o importante e viver varios dias em companhia agradável e não varios dias com medo da morte se medicamento numa cama do hospital.
Wow.. I didn’t know that such fears/diseases or mental disorders exists. I really hope that Thomas would be ok. No more visits, tests or medicines.
Everyone is afraid of death but he was brave enough to admit that to another person. That is true courage!
Thanks for sharing Paulo! :)
Sai from Singapore.
Find just one doctor who can talk ‘straight’ to you, treat you like a human being not a guinea pig, and is willing to allow you, the patient, to be part of the healing along with orthodox medicine.. and you can forget the 999!
Hi Catherine,
I’m really glad it did :)
This afternoon I went to visit my physio and whilst I was talking with him he showed me an interview he had given a few years ago; I asked him if I could borrow it and cite him. He said yes.
“Gerard Bartholome
Un kine sans etats d’asthme
Le mercredi vers 13 heures un kinesitherapeute de Montpellier ouvre le plus vaste cabinet du monde.
Du peek-flow aux pics des Alpes, recit d’un exercice peu commun.
Comment peut-on appeler votre profession?
Je suis re-educateur respiratoire, Et m’occupant d’asthmatiques, j’ai ete, a la demande du Professeur Michel, amene a m’occuper d’escalade pour les enfants asthmatiques.
Pourquoi l’escalade
Ce sport est compatible avec leur etat d’asthme. C’est un sport complet, qui permet de rendre une reeducation respiratoire plus ludique, tout en restant une reeducation musculaire. Nous avons choisi l’escalade parce que l’escalade est un sport, mais en competition avec un protagoniste tres particulier, la nature. Il n’y a pas obligation d’accelerer le tempo par moments , comme au tennis, Le rocher lui est immuable, il a tout son temps. Donc l’enfant peut s’adapter, adapter son sport.
Quel cheminement suivent-ils?
Ces enfants suivent une reeducation respiratoire, qui peut durer longtemps. Au travers de sa reeducation, on va observer l’attitude de l’enfant devant le cabinet de kine, les memes mouvements, le meme kine…L’escalade leur permet alors de continuer la reeducation respiratoire sans s’apercevoir qu’ils ont toujours les memes mouvements.
Votre groupe est important?
Non. J’ai sept enfants que je forme a haut niveau.
..
Ils ont de ce fait une autre approche de l’asthme?
Ils ont surtout une autre approche de la kinesitherapie. Le kinesitherapeute est beaucoup plus proche d’eux, n’est pas un pensum comme, bien souvent, nous le sommes. Les rendez vous sont hebdomadaires, mais on y va pour retrouver un groupe de copains, le kine etant un copain.
Quel est le profil psychologiques de ces patients un peu particuliers?
Au depart ce sont des enfants asthmatiques que j’ai selectionnes parce qu’ils me semblent enthousiastes pour des tas de choses. A partir de la , j’essaie de les enthousiasmer vers un sport de montagne, et, tres rapidement , ils deviennent des batants dans ce domaine. S’ils ne sont pas des battants, obligatoirement, ils passent a autre chose. Mais ceux que je garde, ce sont des enfants passionnes.
A votre avis, ils sortiront mieux de l’asthme que les autres?
Quand on a une passion, oui, je pense qu’on devient obssede. Si on devient un peu obsede, on va negliger un peu les stress qui amenerait de l’asthme. C’est une vue tres personnelle, mais,..je pense que si on a envie de faire quelque chose, on peut eloigner de notre champ de vision des choses qui seraient nefastes.
L’escalade fait partie de votre exercice professionnel?
Tout a fait. Mon activite d’initiateur de haute montagne et mon activite de kinesitherapeute sont parfaitement liees.
….
Vous avez le plus grand cabinet du monde , de ce fait?
J’ai un cabinet qui , en surface et en hauteur est assez enorme…
Cette reeducation pour le sport peut etre transposee dans d’autres domaines?
Ce que j’ai fait avec l’escalade et la haute montagne, on peut le faire pour d’autres pathologies, par le biais d’autres sports, Mais il est tres important que les reeducateurs sortent des murs de leur cabinet et reussissent a prouver au public que nous sommes dans la vie de tous les jours.
La vie de tous les jours?
La vie de tous les jours, ce sont les sports, les loisirs, tout ce que les gens cherchent actuellement.
C’est la vie en dehors du boulot. C’est la vie en dehors de la vie. Dans ce domaine, je crois que nous avons une place a prendre. Et si nous ne la prenons pas maintenant, nous risquons fort de se la faire prendre par d’autres professions.
Chaque fois qu’un kinesi fait plus que de la reeducation , il estime que l’avenir de la kinesitherapie est en dehors des murs du cabinet..
Les murs du cabinet s’etriquent de plus en plus…”
Propos recueillis par Olivier Gassmann
Gerard Bartholome
Date du D.e de kinesitherapeute : Juin 72
Diplomes: Initiateur de Haute Montagne a la F.F. de la Montagne
Activites : Reeducateur respiratoire essentiellement en liberal, Enseignant.
Hobbies; Montagne, planche a voile, ski.
“From the peek flow to the Alps ‘peek”
“Gerard Bartholome is a respiratory re-educator and has been asked by Professor Michel to devise a climbing program for asthmatic children.
Why climbing?
This sport is compatible with their asthma state. It is a complete sport that allows to restore a more ludic respiratory re-education. Whilst remaining a muscular re-education. We chose climbing, because climbing is a sport, but it is in competition with a very particular protagonist – nature – There is no need to accelerate the tempo like in tennis- the rock is eternal, it has all the time in the world – therefore the child can adapt himself to the sport.
What development do they follow?
These children can have a respiratory re-education that can last for a long period. Through this re-education, we are observing the child at the physio’s practice, the same exercises, the same therapy, etc.
The climbing allow them to continue the respiratory Education without noticing that they always are doing the same exercises, always the same therapy.
I look after the 10/12 years old ..up to 16/17/18 years old. Then they can take their exam.
Is it a large group?
No, I have 7 children at a high level.
Do they have a different approach towards asthma?
One thing for sure, they have a different approach towards physiotherapy.
The physiotherapist is closer to them, is not a “punishment” as it often is.The appointments are held each week but we are meeting as a group of “buddies” , the physiotherapist being one of them.
What is the psychological profile of these patients that appear to be different?
To start with, they are asthmatic children that I have selected because they appear enthusiastic about a lot of things.
From that, I try to fire them with enthusiasm about mountain climbing and soon after they are fighters in that domain. If they are not, they go somewhere else. The ones that stay are mad about it.
According to you, will they pull through better than the other asthmatics?
When we are passionate about something, Yes, I believe we are a bit obsessed. We are going to forget about the stresses that have brought the asthma in. It is a very personal view, however, I believe that if we want to do something, we can keep at bay from our field of vision, things that are harmful.
…This re-education through sport can it be transported in other fields?
What I have done with climbing and high mountaineering can be done with other pathologies, through other sports.
But it is very important that the re-educators come out of their walls from their practices and succeed in proving to the Public that we are part of the daily life.
Daily life?
Daily life is sports, leisure time everything that people are searching for. It is life outside the job. It’s life outside of life. In this area, I believe we have a role to play and if we don’t take it now, we are at risk to have other professions taking it out for us.
Each time a physiotherapist does more than re-education he believes that the physio job is outside of the practice ‘s walls.
The walls of the practice get narrower and narrower…”
Olivier Gasmann
Interview Kine Press December 1991
Gerard Bartholome
Diplome Initiateur de Haute Montagne a la F.F. de la montagne
Activites re-educateur respiratoire essentiellement en liberal.Enseignant.
Date du D.E. de kinesitherapeute : Juin 72