J23 — June 2009 — Caring Hands

Intro: Suffering patients know the importance of human touch. The power of personal contact to the sick or post-surgical patient can be profound. Whether it's a massage or knitting a shawl, health care volunteers like the ones you're about to meet know there is healing in caring hands.

"WE USE OUR HANDS CAREFULLY IN SHOWING CARE AND COMPASSION FOR THE PATIENT."

COMPASSION IS WHAT VOLUNTEER TRISH ZIMMER SHOWS TO HEART TRANSPLANT PATIENT GORDY GRATZ. SHE KNOWS SHE'S DOING MORE THAN JUST HELPING HIM RELAX.

"IT ALLEVIATES PAIN. IT REDIRECTS THEIR FOCUS."

RESEARCH SHOWS MASSAGE MAY ALSO IMPROVE BLOOD FLOW. AND IT MAY REDUCE ANXIETY, SOMETHING WITH WHICH MANY PATIENTS STRUGGLE WHEN FACED WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS. GORDY JUST KNOWS IT HELPS.

"IT FEELS WONDERFUL."

MASSAGES ARE JUST ONE WAY VOLUNTEERS AT MAYO CLINIC ARE USING CARING HANDS TO EASE PATIENTS' SUFFERING. KNITTING IS ANOTHER.

"DEAR GOD, PLEASE PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND THIS PERSON'S SHOULDERS."

VOLUNTEER LINDA WARD PRAYS OVER THE SHAWLS AS SHE KNITS.

"PUTTING PRAYERS INTO SOMETHING I'M KNITTING AND GIVING IT TO SOMEONE IS LIKE PUTTING A BIG HUG AROUND THEM."

FROM KNITTING HANDS TO THOSE FOLDED IN PRAYER. CARING HANDS TO PROMOTE COMFORT AND HEALING.

"MAY THIS BLANKET BE A SIGN OF YOUR HEALING PRESENCE."

CHAPLAIN AUDREY LUKASAK GIVES THE SHAWLS TO PATIENTS WHO'D LIKE THEM.

"MAY IT EMBRACE ME WITH CARING WHEN I AM IN PAIN. MAY IT REMIND ME THAT YOU ARE WITH ME AS I EXPERIENCE THIS DAY."

FOR ANYONE OF ANY RELIGION.

"A SYMBOL OF WANTING YOU TO KNOW THERE ARE A LOT PRAYING FOR YOU AND CARING FOR YOU DURING THIS TIME."

MAKING THE JOURNEY A LITTLE EASIER. FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: A Mayo Clinic study showed that prayer by a third party does not guarantee healing. But research does suggest that tending to spirituality, especially during a time of need, can improve quality of life and promote healing.

The programs are part of Mayo Clinic's effort to take care of the whole patient, not just their medical needs. Caring hand volunteers are an integral part of making that happen. For more information, visit our Website at…

STATIONS: Per the licensing agreement, please provide a link from your station's Web site to www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge or voice tag "mayoclinic.org/medical-edge" for more information.