By Barbara Martin
Contributing Columnist
Old Town Clinic began as a small walk-in medical clinic on
Third Avenue and Burnside, started by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. Now,
as part of Central City Concern (since 2001), it is a fully functioning Primary
Care Home at Broadway and Burnside, serving adults who are poor, physically and
mentally ill, homeless or dealing with addiction.
The holiday season is a good time to pause for a moment and
reflect, even though it can be hard to do in our busy lives. For three years
now, on the day before Thanksgiving, Old Town Clinic staff has decided to honor
and recognize our clients who have passed away in the last year. This is a
tradition that is sure to continue, as it is important to remember our clients
as well as to recognize our own loss and grieving process.
We gathered this year, early on Nov. 21, to honor those we
have lost this past year. We started with some meditation and prayer, as well
as song. Then staff members got up to speak about each person who had been a
patient of ours who had died. This year
there were 67 names to read. We took an opportunity to share some of what we
knew about the individuals, and place a flower in a large vase for each person.
There were some good memories, stories of incredible triumph
against significant odds. There were some sad stories of people who seemed to
never find their peace in this life. There were stories of clients living their
lives the way that was right for them, and dying on their own terms. There were
stories of people who died on the streets. There were some people who had taken
their own lives. There were also stories of people who had found homes,
acceptance, community, and peace before leaving this world.
I got choked up as I recounted telling a patient of mine
last year, immediately after our 2011 memorial service, that he had what
appeared to be terminal lung cancer. We knew that he would likely not make it
through the year, and I planned to honor him at this year’s service if that
should come to pass. He ended up working with hospice for a while, and was able
to remain comfortable in his own home. When he was too ill to come into the
clinic any more, I got to speak to him on the phone. He shared that he was
writing letters and contacting old friends, and had been able to get in touch
with some friends who he had not spoken to in many years. It seemed to give him
some peace of mind as he traveled his journey. He died in March 2012.
There were laughs, smiles and joy at this event, in addition
to sadness and tears.
This service highlights that there is a greater purpose to
the work that we do. I personally felt a reaffirmation of why I am here at this
clinic. We are here for the connections with people, the learning from each
other, and the ability to be a part of someone’s life, in healthy times as well
as through illness.
We had the fortune to get
to know these clients in some small way during their time here on Earth, and
this is one way we can honor their lives. We say their names and we remember.
This article appears in 2012-12-21.