WE VISITED THE UNIVERSITY of British Columbia in Vancouver recently where a state of the art hospital is part of the educational facility. While my husband was receiving medical attention I wandered throughout the extensive area and took in the sights. I stepped into an empty chapel within the building that offered words of comfort.
When thinking of a letter beginning with "U", the university hospital came to mind as well as the underutilized comforts and quiet I found there.
Alongside serene scenes on the walls, a piano was quietly standing.
The silence was in stark contrast to the construction noise happening just outside the hospital doors.
The blooms along pathways were unfazed by the activity, although the upheaval of earth with big machinery dusted the wisteria nearby.
The flowers inside were less lively and seemed perfectly dusted.
Looking out the windows I saw a greenhouse on the lawn.
There was also a room to get a hair wash and new do at the hospital.
I noticed a pleasant patio just beyond this doorway.
It was tempting to sit in the comfy chair in one room filled to the ceiling with books at the Kathleen R. Taylor library.
The teaching and research facility does not function as fully as a typical general hospital but it does provide outpatient care and perform certain surgeries. There is also an extended care unit on the grounds. Yet aside from an occasional person being wheeled about by an attendant, the hallways and rooms I entered were oddly empty. This seemed ironic since the surrounding Vancouver population is large, waiting lists long and medical needs many.
I saw few people milling about the building that was clearly designed to treat body, mind and spirit. Even diagnostic tools such as MIR equipment seemed to lack the usual line up of patients waiting to be examined, despite the fact that people in BC must sometimes wait up to six months for similar tests if conditions are not immediately life threatening.
At the UBC hospital no one was getting their hair washed that morning, singing a tune to the beat of the piano, planting a seed in the greenhouse, getting spiritual counsel in the chapel or reading a book in the library. Nonetheless, I suspect the best of care was given to folks like my husband who was struck with a rare nerve/muscle disorder several months ago and is relying on the expertise of the specialists there.
Copyright by Penelope PuddlismsThis post showcases the letter "U" for UBC Hospital and underused. If you think words are fun and enjoy playing with the alphabet, visit ABC Wednesday.
