Senate Sketches # 1100
NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.
Senate Sketches # 1100
By
Senator Hank Sanders
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“Did you have lots of company and phone calls?” my physical therapist asked. “Yes,” I replied. “Bet it was just too much and you hated it,” he continued. “No,” I said. “I appreciated every phone call. I appreciated every visit. I appreciated every caring expression.” He said, “Spoken like a true politician.” I said, “I meant every word.”
I explained to the physical therapist that the expressions of care truly helped me to deal with the pain of rehabilitation as well as other challenges arising from double knee replacement surgery. During this illness, it was my first encounter with the concept of expressions of care being unwanted. During my recovery, I’ve thought a lot about how caring is expressed and its impact.
I had many visitors. I had many phone calls. I received lots of flowers, food baskets, and other items. I appreciated each one. I truly understood that each act was a manifestation of caring and such expressions are special gifts.
Caring comes in many forms. It may be concern or appreciation or love or other positive emotions. Whatever form it takes, caring becomes a special gift to those in struggle with illness, death, defeat, or disappointment.
After my operation, many whom I am close to immediately extended expressions of care. So did many whom I am not real close to. They called or visited or sent gifts, e-mails, and cards. I was appreciative of each. A few people whom I am close to delayed contacting me. It was not a problem.
The non contact became a problem when these friends later expressed - sincerely I believe - that they were somehow helping me by not contacting me because it would be a bother. When such sentiments were expressed to me, I said that it wasn’t like that at all. I explained that direct expressions of care contributed to the healing process and to my meeting the many challenges surrounding this illness.
One woman told me that she delayed contacting me because she did not want to be a burden. I immediately recalled that when death occurred in her family, I called but did not get her. I left a message on her voice mail. She later told me how much the message had meant to her. In fact, she saved the message for a long time, replaying it time and time again. Expressions of caring are special gifts.
I have made great progress in a short period of time. It was due in part to the great medical team at UAB Highlands Orthopedic Hospital, which performed the operation. It was due in part to the great team at Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital including the occupational and physical therapists, the nurses, doctors and all who worked with me. But it was also due in part to expressions of caring manifested in so many ways.
I could hear the caring in the voices of nurses. I could feel it in the touch of the therapists. I could perceive it in the willingness of various health care providers as they worked with me. But it also came from many who were not in the medical field. I could perceive the caring in their voices, the love I felt in their presence, the appreciation in their gifts.
Caring is balm for pain - pain of body, of mind and of spirit. There is something about caring that soothes the spirits, helping the whole being to heal.
I had far more visitors than I deserve. There was not a day I did not have multiple visitors. I had far more calls than I deserve. I had far more gifts and cards than I deserve. But each one helped. Caring is a gift that heals.
I challenge each of us to reach out and express our caring to those in struggle. The struggle may come from illness or death or defeat or other challenges. I want each of us to know that caring is a powerful gift only if manifested to those in struggle. We cannot unlock the power of caring by keeping the care in our minds and hearts.
The Sunday before my operation, my church gathered in a circle and prayed for me. It was a powerful expression of caring. Many others prayed for me but did not contact me. I felt their prayers anyway. For those in struggle, prayer is always a gift of caring.
We cannot touch people and heal their bodies as Jesus did with the man who had the withered hand. We cannot speak to people and heal their minds as Jesus did with the crazy man living in the cemetery. But we can help heal. We help heal each time we express caring to those ill of the mind, body, emotions and spirit. I know from first hand experience what a gift caring becomes when it is manifested.
Now on to the Daily Diary.
Saturday - I was still in Birmingham at the Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital. I enjoyed visiting with Sharon Calhoun, my Senate Assistant and Vicki Simmons, her supervisor at the Alabama State Senate. I also had a good visit with lobbyist Greg Jones of Montgomery. I received many calls. As with last week, I did not keep notes on all who called and visited, so I have failed to mention some who contacted me. But I really appreciated each call and visit because each was truly a blessing. Rehab is on a reduced basis on Saturday so I had more time.
Sunday - I had a day off from rehab. I called by phone to participate in Radio Sunday School with Dr. Margaret Hardy and Radio Education with Perry County School Superintendent John Heard. I had visits from the following: Randy Wilhelm of Birmingham; Felicia Pettway of Selma; Roberta and Roger Watts and their two grandsons of Gadsden; Anita Archie of the Two Year College Systems; and Sharon Wheeler of the Senate President Pro Tem Office who helped with Sketches as we visited. I received calls from many including Joyce Bigbee with the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO).
Monday - I enjoyed visiting with the following: Senator Parker Griffith; Representative Richard Lindsey; Collins and Synethia Pettaway of Selma; State School Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton; Robert Lane and Yvette Patterson of the Lowndes County Board of Education; Bob Mants of White Hall; Tom Whatley with the Alabama Chief Justice’s Office; and others. I had a good discussion on the phone with Phillip G. Alston, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Execution who also serves as professor at NYU Law School and Director of the Law School’s Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. I also had calls from Representative Yusuf Salaam; Dr. Esther Hyatt of New York; Mike Martin with Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom’s Office; Carolyn Wheeler of Chattanooga, TN,; and others.
Tuesday - I received calls from the Reverend C. A. Lett, pastor of my Church; Lonetta Gaines of New York; Kirk Wheeler of Chattanooga, TN; and others. I had a number of visitors but cannot recall them. Maybe I have included them some in other days.
Wednesday - I enjoyed visits with the following: Senator Lowell Barron; Perry County Superintendent John Heard; Cathy McVay of Perry County; Dr. Fannie McKenzie and Dr. Vicie Larkin of Selma; Bill Drinkard, aid to Senator Zeb Little; and others. I received calls from people including the following: Dr. C. A. Lett; Yvonne Hatcher and David Lee of my Church; Joyce Bigbee and Norris Green of LFO; lobbyist Carol Brown; and Marilyn Taylor and Roy Hightower of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.
Thursday - I communicated with the following: Senator Kim Benefield; Dave White of the Birmingham News; Charles Steele, National President and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); Ralph Paige, Jackie Ward, and Jerry Pennick of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives; Barbara Brown of Selma; Consultant Rick Dent; and others.
Friday - I left Birmingham and traveled back to Selma. I communicated with the following: Khadijah Ishaq of Selma; George Allen of Selma; Dr. Carol P. Zippert of the Greene County Democrat; Nancy Cole of Greene County; Connie Tucker of Gambia, West Africa; Sharon Wheeler about Senate Sketches; Phillip Bookins of Jackson, MS; Dr. Fannie McKenzie and her husband Bobby McKenzie of Selma; Dr. James Mitchell of Wallace Community College Selma (WCCS); Ola Morrow about Sketches; Kimani Varner, Carolyn Varner, and Zakiya Varner of Selma; and others. Several persons such as Khadijah, George, and Connie were helpful in special ways. I was not rushing to get out of the hospital, but I was really glad to be back in my own home.
EPILOGUE - We are all different in what we think we want. Manifestation of caring, however, cuts through wants to reach our needs. Even if we don’t think we want contact from others, if it’s caring, we need it.
Index of Sanders' Senate Sketches
