Spirituality in Holistic Care

By Barbara Ellicott, EdD, CCC-SLP

During my nearly 40 years as a speech-language pathologist, I have worked in virtually every setting, from public schools, hospitals and nursing homes to colleges, hospice and private practice. Supervisors and patients have commented on my highly effective work, which I always assumed was the result of extensive training, a genuine love for patients, and a comprehensive background as a school psychologist, learning consultant, and teacher of individuals with disabilities.

Within this past year, however, when I became a patient due to what ultimately was diagnosed as severe cardiomyopathy caused by Lyme disease, I learned what the secret of therapeutic success was.

I had a hospital-induced near-death experience that resulted from having been administered blood thinners when I didn't have a clot. My hemoglobin had dropped to three, when it should have been 12, necessitating four blood transfusions and intensive care. My unaddressed edema became so severe that my lower extremities and body below my waist were distorted with 49 pounds of bloat. I was not able to bend my legs or roll over.

I was given a doomsday prognosis by hospital staff, including cardiologists. They had mistakenly lumped me into the same category as a typical 65-year-old American "couch potato" who is on SAD, or "Standard American Diet." I have been a vegan for eight years with extremely low cholesterol and a marathon runner for more than five years.

After begging for physical therapy for a week, I was finally granted it both as a hospital inpatient and outpatient after much bureaucratic stalling. That's when the "secret" of therapeutic success was revealed. I had the good fortune to be assigned to a wonderful physical therapist who was the only medically-related professional who gave me hope and inspiration. Farida had been trained in the Philippines in cardiology and physical therapy.

The cardiologist who had been assigned to me had declared that I would never be able to even race—walk more than one mile a day for the rest of my life. Such a prognosis left me feeling depressed with a loss of spirit. However, I felt refreshed and encouraged through a spiritual connection with my wonderful physical therapist. Farida makes it a habit, I came to learn, to direct therapy to her patients' goals.

In spite of my pathetic looking condition, which included oozing edema and sloth-like movements, Farida manipulated my limbs in a way that I was unable to. I left each session feeling refreshed, renewed and vitalized. One day, after many weeks of therapy, I dared ask a crucial question: "Do you think that I might be able to at least walk a full marathon in the fall?" Her response was music to my ears and one I shall never forget. "I don't think that's unrealistic at all," she said.

I can hardly think of words to adequately describe the burst of adrenalin and gush of endorphins that flowed through my entire being. I was enthusiastic and felt reborn and energized. The marathon was 10 months away. I began conscientious training three months prior to my goal of doing the Tow Path Marathon in Ohio with my wonderfully supportive son Chris. During a long run each week, I used a heart monitor that I had won at a recent 5K race and that Farida had programmed for me so diligently. On Oct. 8 I successfully completed the marathon—all 26.2 miles.

I'd like to offer a few thoughts to ponder on spirituality.

I was fortunate to hear the last portion of a wonderful presentation by Mehmet Oz, MD, a cardiovascular surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, in New York, on the NPR program Heart & Soul. He proclaimed, "There is more to cardiology than medication and high technology. There's the patient's spirit, personality, lifestyle and drive." Yes! I thought, he's right on the mark.

I also attended a lecture titled "Cardiology in the 21st Century" given by a relatively young cardiologist. When I spoke to him at the end of the session, he praised exercise and agreed that my healthy lifestyle had saved my life. He is now my new cardiologist. He is supportive of my athletic pursuits, praises my vegan lifestyle, and has reduced my meds.

I have read many works by Wayne Dyer, PhD; but in his bestseller The Power of Intention (Hay House, 2004) given to me by my daughter Beth, he deals with spirituality in a nonsectarian manner. Dr. Dyer, like me, learned the importance of spirituality after undergoing a cardiac procedure. If one removes stress and anxiety and visualizes the goal, he says, virtually anything is possible.

After all, if many health problems can be psychosomatic, then the psyche can be manipulated to restore health and healing as well. In fact, Dr. Dyer explained how technology now has shown that the mind and body (psycho/soma) interrelationship has been proved to be more true than ever anticipated.

Barbara Ellicott is the owner of Comprehensive Therapeutic Services, a private practice in Madison, NJ. She can be contacted at drteddy2@earthlink.net.