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Life's Journeys

A message from Dottie Deremo,
President/CEO, Hospice of Michigan

'Chaim! To life!
This traditional toast
reflects a philosophy
cherished by the Jewish
people. It is spoken with exuber-
ance and optimism. At Hospice of
Michigan, we embrace the idea of
life as a celebration. People often
think life's celebrations are for
times like the birth of a baby, a
wedding, graduation or new job.
The time shared with our patients
and families at Hospice of Michigan
has taught me and my staff that
life's celebrations should also
include much more than the big
events. It is often in the smallest
moment, like when the sun comes
through the window on an autumn
day, or our children make an unex-
pected visit, that we feel the greatest
joy and love of life. We have learned
that it is important to celebrate
all of life, the big events and the
fleeting moments, until the very
end. Most importantly, we have
learned that the time at the end of
life is important, and rich, and worthy
of our attention and best efforts. It
should be treasured.
In recent years, issues about death
and dying have dominated the front
pages and provoked passionate
discussion. This is a good thing
because death is one of the most
profound journeys of life, and yet
we give it very little thought until
someone we love is diagnosed with
a serious illness. Then, when we are
least equipped to make decisions,
we are faced with a multitude of
them. As a result, many people die
in pain and with a great deal of
unresolved issues, and the people
who are left behind are reeling
from their loss and agonizing over

the decisions that were made
along the way.
There is another way. Hospice of
Michigan provides important services
that help patients and their families
by treating symptoms of the disease
and managing pain, addressing
emotional issues and spiritual needs
and also providing practical support
like the delivery of medications.
We have found that with compre-
hensive support, patients and families
begin to turn their focus from the
illness to the person who is ill and
to his needs and his life. This time
can be very rich with reunion and
reconciliation. Instead of managing
each day's crisis, the hospice team
can help create an environment
where life is celebrated, where
affairs are thoughtfully wrapped up,
and time is shared, not endured
and not wasted.

Jewish Hospice Program is
helpful resource

We also know that spirituality is
an important part of many people's
lives and it is vital that spiritual
needs be addressed at this time.

We are mindful that our Jewish
patients have specific traditions and
a unique life perspective and we
make this an important element in
their care. Often the families of
Jewish - patients have many ques-
tions about what is appropriate.
They ask, "What customs should
we follow at this difficult time?
What are our choices? Above all,
how do we know that there can he
death with dignity?" To ensure that
the needs of our Jewish patients
and their families are addressed, we
have developed a Jewish Hospice
Program. We have established a
Jewish Advisory Committee made up
of physicians, rabbis, community
representatives and members of
several _Jewish agencies to keep us
informed about the needs of the
Jewish community and to ensure
that our program meets those needs.
Our Jewish Hospice Program is
prepared to serve Jews of every
affiliation and also those who are
unaffiliated.
In future weeks this column will
offer guidance and information,
some of which you may not need
at this time but may need in the
future. It is our goal to help you
become familiar with Hospice of
Michigan, the resources we can
provide you and your family, our
mission, our staff, and life stories
that will inspire you.
When you need us, we will he
here.
Once again, L'Chaim! And in
honor of the Jewish New Year, we
at Hospice at Michigan also say,
"L'Shanah tovah tikatayvu."
For more information about our
_Jewish Hospice Program, please call
Bobbie Blitz at 248-966-8262.

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riot gear moved in with clubs and
pepper spray.
Inside the West Center, Kharrazi
told the audience that he didn't
understand Western criticism of the
trial of the 10 Jews, which he
described as just and fair.
"They do not accept the Iranian
Jewish trial, which is very arrogant,"
he said. "I do not understand when
a government from the outside inter-
venes in the internal affairs of anoth-
er country."
Two Iranian Jewish organizations,
usually at loggerheads, were repre-
sented by their leadership and some
members at the demonstration.
The mainstream Iranian American

One Jewish
Iranian group
was "disinvited"
to the meeting.

Jewish Federation, which usually
prefers to work quietly behind the
scenes, canceled a scheduled meeting
with the foreign minister and urged
its members to join the demonstra-
tion.
Sam Kermanian, the federation's
secretary-general, expressed dismay
at last week's reduced sentences for
the 10, saying he had been assured
that at least three of them would be
released, while the others would
receive substantially lower sentences.
Pooya Dayanim, spokesman of the
more militant Council of Iranian
American Jewish Organizations,
charged that some Iranian Jewish
students at UCLA, originally invited
to the meeting with Kharrazi, had
been suddenly "disinvited."
Phillip R. Trimble, UCLA's vice
provost for international studies and
overseas programs, said in a written
statement that "UCLA respects and
understands the concerns expressed
by some people about Dr. Kharrazi's
appearance on campus. However, his
visit reflects one of the university's
primary missions — to provide a
variety of forums for voices address-
ing problems facing the world." ❑