It is easy to start the conversation through the trauma lens.

Peter Chiavetta 11/16/229:28 PM

Recently I had a patient that had many years of dialysis and recently a kidney transplant. The emergency was a vehicle accident but with no life-threatening physical trauma, I dived into the real trauma.

My patient emigrated to the United States after struggling in his homeland as a child, then spent five years in a refugee camp. He had poor health with kidney failure. Our conversation covered the possible trauma of life contributed to his kidney failure to joking about my E-pcr (electronic patient care report) not having his ethnicity as a choice. I joked that he was the same color as Jesus Christ and yet I had no place on my E-pcr for him. We both laughed and he told me the Ark of the Covenant was in his home land and we laughed more.

Being human to each other is what it is all about. He told me he has been coming to this hospital for many years for the treatment of his kidney disease and has had good care. But he also told me no one has been as kind with conversation about his life as I have. Let them tell their story and the healing will begin.

I have attached a video interview that was published in NY state in 2021.

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Peter ChiavettaMember

@Frank Sterle Jr. posted:
A form of non-physical-impact brain damage comes in the form of emotional and/or psychological PTSD trauma resulting from unhindered toxic abuse, assuming the abuse is even survived.
It acts as a starting point into a life in which the brain uncontrollably releases potentially damaging levels of inflammation-promoting stress hormones and chemicals, even in non-stressful daily routines. It is quite like a form of non-physical-impact brain damage.
Though quite formidable, the pain remains invisibly confined to inside the head thus solitarily suffered — unlike an openly visible physical disability or condition, which tends to elicit sympathy/empathy from others.

So often people think "this is my life" and don't know there are other options. My hope is to show compassion and care that may open the door for them to walk through.

11/30/225:24 PM

Frank Sterle Jr.Member

A form of non-physical-impact brain damage comes in the form of emotional and/or psychological PTSD trauma resulting from unhindered toxic abuse, assuming the abuse is even survived.

It acts as a starting point into a life in which the brain uncontrollably releases potentially damaging levels of inflammation-promoting stress hormones and chemicals, even in non-stressful daily routines. It is quite like a form of non-physical-impact brain damage.

Though quite formidable, the pain remains invisibly confined to inside the head thus solitarily suffered — unlike an openly visible physical disability or condition, which tends to elicit sympathy/empathy from others.

11/30/221:07 PM

Carey SippFormer Director of Strategic Partnerships

Thanks Peter! And thanks, too, for the pleasure of interviewing you for our year-end giving donor spotlight this week! We appreciate all you do as an emergency medical technician who models trauma-informed care. You truly start the healing on the way to the hospital with your personal interest in patients, listening, giving them a chance to be seen, known, heard.

Here’s the link to the profile:

https://www.pacesconnection.co...g/528113475598504571

Your sharing “from the field” is inspiring and appreciated!

Carey

11/17/224:18 PM