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Illuminating Relections on Blackpool 2005
The Reverend Chris Lee
Head of Pastoral and Psychological Care / Senior Chaplain, Royal Marsden Hospital
Rev Chris Lee wrote a ‘reflective article’ on this year’s Conference which appeared in Kidney Life, Winter issue, page 6 and is reproduced below.
He spoke of his own battles and successes as a kidney patient and the affects this had on his family, his career and his view of life.
It was a real privilege to be involved in this year's NKF Annual Conference; good food, and thought provoking sessions, stimulating conversations and the added bonus of the Blackpool Illuminations! As I travelled back to London I reflected on the conference. These reflections are best explained by looking at the words used at the conference: abbreviations such as GFR, PHI and BCC, long words such as parathyroid, immuno-suppression and haemodialysis and small words such as hope, faith, and love.
Abbreviations and the long words first. Am I the only kidney patient who, when I began my journey, struggled with all the abbreviations and long words used in hospital? I found it very encouraging to hear Dr Charlie Thomson talking about kidney medicine rather than renal or nephrology and I was particularly fascinated by the talk on skin cancer - even if I do feel the need to confess that I have sailed most of this summer without using a sun block! This is made more embarrassing given that I work in a hospital dedicated to treating cancer. I should know better!
There is no doubt that the medical sessions were fascinating and informative but my abiding memory of the conference will be not the long words or abbreviations, but the small words. Words like love, faith and hope.
Kidney disease is something that affects not just the patient but usually the whole family: parents, spouses, children and friends. Some of the conversations I had with you who attended, reminded me again of the great debt we owe to our families for their love and support. Where would we be without LOVE, the love of our family and friends? Love is only a small word but its meaning is huge for those on dialysis. Without love, life on the machine would be unbearable.
'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps
no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth,
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails'
St Paul
Another key word that summarises the conference for me is FAITH. I was very encouraged by the number of delegates who came and spoke to me after my session telling me how important their faith was to them in the life as a kidney patient. My experience is that faith is treated as a bit of a no go area in the medical world, but for patients it can often be the one thing that enables them to survive a demanding life of dialysis and other treatments. If your faith is important to you why not put pen to paper and write to me (c/o the editor at the NKF office) and share your story. (I know the Kidney Life editor, Deborah Duval, would welcome contributions from all, regardless of denominations or religion).
Finally, the last small word that, in a way, summarises the conference is HOPE. From the doctors there was the hope of new drugs. For those of us who have had a parathyroidectomy (excuse the long word!) it was encouraging to hear of a new drug to help with our phosphate and calcium levels. Hope also manifests itself in the work of the army of volunteers who are prepared to help us. This is great in a time in which many know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Finally there was the abiding message of hope that transplantation can literally mean a new beginning and a new life. Let us hope that this message is heard loud and clear in the wider community and that more people declare a willingness to become kidney donors; in death and in life.
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