 | ||
 |  |  |
 | ||
By the Grace of God I Am What I Am:
Profile of a Palliative Care Patient
By James Wonacott, M.Div., BCC, Faith Regional Spiritual Care associate chaplain
Growing up, Stogdill was an athlete in high school with a physical stature and strength that seemed to render him invulnerable. But he acquired more than physical strength after the death of his father. This event led him to take on the role of big brother in his family.
For many years now, Stogdill has lived with diabetes, chronic renal failure, and numerous infections. As his daily activities became more restricted, he found himself having to rely on his younger brother, Chris, and sister-in-law, Cindy, a role reversal he was not used to.
Realizing that he might benefit from a multidisciplinary health care team, Stogdill began using Faith Regional’s palliative care services in 2008. Shortly thereafter, he had to make a difficult decision: to have his lower right leg amputated in hopes of finding a respite from pain, fever, and infection.
As he proceeded with the surgery, Stogdill received support from members of the palliative care team. Jan Matthews, director of social services, and Christine Chrisman, R.N., palliative care coordinator, collaborated to arrange for his needs and to stay in contact with him throughout the process. He has shown amazing resiliency during his ongoing recovery and has mentioned how deeply he appreciates the help he’s received. At the core of what keeps him fighting and rebounding is his belief in God and his desire to find peace with himself and others.
Stogdill continues to enrich and bless members of Faith Regional’s palliative care team. There is a part of him that seems to embody St. Paul’s words:
“But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary,
I worked harder than any of them — though it was not I,
but the grace of God that is with me.”
2 Corinthians 12:7; Philippians 1:18b-26; 1 Corinthians 15:10-11,
The New Oxford Annotated Bible.
New Revised Standard Version. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994, p. 246NT.