When I was born, it took my physician three days to diagnose my disability, and this was followed by many medical professionals saying they were unfamiliar with my condition. After a few weeks, my parents took me to Shriners Hospital where Dr. Schoenecker entered the room and, upon noticing me for the first time, exclaimed, “She has arthrogryposis!” Feeling a great sense of peace, my father responded, pointing back at him, “You are our man!”

Reflecting upon this experience reminds me of the image of throwing a stone into a body of water. Our throwing of the stone not only has a direct impact of where it hits the water but it has the rippling effect around that area. Similarly, this best illustrates our ministry to those whom se serve. We directly care for the patient, but our care also affects their loved ones. We address the needs of not just the patients but also their support systems—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It is through our care of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—where trust is established, and we can begin the journey of healing, no matter what the outcome.

God, as we enter the healing journey of every patient and loved, help us to remember that our words and actions not only influence those on our unit but also have a rippling affect beyond the walls of this hospital. In Your name I pray, Amen.