Pittsburgh Dish

Shepherd Wellness Community: Twenty years of compassion

Rev. J. Howard Cherry and Pittsburgh's HIV/AIDS community

Shepherd Wellness Community (SWC), the only AIDS community center in Western Pennsylvania, celebrates its 20th Anniversary next month. Rev. J. Howard Cherry, an AIDS activist and SWC board member, shared his memories of the early days of AIDS in Pittsburgh.

In the early 80s, Rev. J. Howard Cherry was asked to visit a patient at Allegheny General Hospital. The Methodist minister often received requests from social workers and hospital staff to visit patients who, they thought, might benefit--spiritually or otherwise--from a cleric’s visit. It wasn’t the first time he ministered on the fly, and it wouldn’t be his last.

Praying amid tangles of wires was familiar to Cherry. The air smelled medicinal, not perfumed by church candles and incense. Cherry understood that comfort needn’t be comfortable.

The patient, a younger man, was in an isolation room. Nurses urged Cherry to wear protective gloves, gown and mask. Initially he refused, then compromised and agreed to wear gloves.

He entered the sterile room and saw the man whose face was turned toward the wall. After introducing himself, Cherry said the patient “unleashed this anger—at the church, at religion, at me.” He then slowly turned his body toward Cherry and said, “Do you realize that I’m dying? I’m all alone. Everyone is afraid to come see me. I don’t want to die alone.”

Cherry crouched down closer to the young man and said, softly, “You won’t.”

He removed the latex gloves and rolled up his sleeves. “I cradled him. He died in my arms.”

The young man died of AIDS.

Rev. Cherry left the man’s isolation room and returned to the world that had isolated him.

Soon after, Cherry received a call from a funeral director. He often received requests from funeral home staff to provide a small service for loved ones who, they thought, might benefit--spiritually or otherwise--from a cleric’s visit. It wasn’t the first time he’d officiate on the fly, and it wouldn’t be his last.

In the early 80s the mysterious and misunderstood HIV/AIDS virus infected relationships; no bond, not even a mother’s love, was immune.

The family of the deceased, a young man who the minister had never met, were seated near the coffin. The mother and father and two sisters stared straight ahead, expressionless. The room, large enough to hold dozens of mourners, swallowed up the meager group.

Cherry tried to make conversation with the young man’s mother. Silence. He asked her to tell him about her son. Silence.

He asked about her son’s friends.

“I wouldn’t allow those kind in this place,” she said. “He wasn’t my son. We just have to bury this person.”

The woman’s former son died of AIDS.

But this time, Cherry left an isolated young man and returned to a world that would learn to embrace him.

Cherry’s mission was to educate his congregation on HIV/AIDS; on its ravages to the body and stigmas to the soul. He joined several AIDS organizations, including the Pittsburgh Interfaith Council on AIDS and the Gay & Lesbian Community Center. He was also aware of the care provided at SWC. As pastor, he often spoke about the group from his pulpit at the Bloomfield Community Church .

“Father [SWC founder] Lynn [Edwards] and I went back many years and, along with a group of other ministers and a few Catholic priests, we set about a formal strategic process to counsel and educate.” Urban ministry, they thought, should teach science and compassion. They challenged “systematic religion” with “liberation theology”; they’d replace preaching with ecumenically teachings. Gradually--through sermons, classes and one-on-one conversations-- church members throughout Pittsburgh opened their minds and hearts to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Years later, Bloomfield Community Church was about to merge with Albright Community United Methodist Church in Shadyside. Bloomfield congregates, Cherry explained, had the right to declare the future of the building. By that time they’d become aware of the Lynn ’s work at SWC. They’d also lost a fellow member to AIDS. In 2001, Cherry, with the support of his parishioners, handed over the keys to Fr. Lynn and SWC.

Locked within its walls is a story that speaks to the legacy of the Bloomfield Community Church and would become the future of SWC.

After leaving the funeral home that day, Cherry needed to know more about young man with the silent “mother.”

“He was creative and spontaneous and lively and had many friends.” said Cherry. A week later Cherry called his friends.

“We all gathered at the Bloomfield Church, now Shepherd Wellness Community, and celebrated his life.”

Shepherd Wellness Community members are offered transportation to SWC events, dinners and the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force food pantry. Quality of life programs and health seminars are also available. For more information, visit their website.

Clearly an ass man

Must be jelly 'cause jam don't steal that many colonoscopes

Man accused of taking 66 colonoscopes from hospitals

Thursday, April 12, 2007

By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A man has been charged with taking 66 colonoscopes from hospitals around the region and then selling them to various medical equipment distributors.

Michael Marburger was charged in federal court in Pittsburgh yesterday by a criminal information with 66 counts of transporting stolen goods across state lines.

According to court documents, Mr. Marburger took the colonoscopes from hospitals in Pittsburgh; Erie; Du Bois, Clearfield County; Altoona, Blair County; Cleveland; Butler; Martins Ferry, Ohio; State College, Centre County; Akron, Ohio; and Clarksburg, W.Va. between March 2004 and July 2006.

The most taken from any one place, according to paperwork, were 10 colonoscopes stolen from United Hospital Center in Clarksburg. They were valued at approximately $210,000 and were taken from July 8 to 28, 2006.

Pittsburgh pink lung law passes

Mike Gillis says don't stop there.

Good morning, and smoke 'em if you got 'em Pittsburgh.  I can't figure a way to defend smoking or subjecting others to second-hand smoke without sounding like an idiot.  I'm in favor of helmet and seat belt laws, so I guess I'm a hypocrite if I say it's a personal choice to smoke so get out of my business.

This is just the beginning, so buckle up your chin straps-here it comes. New York City officials want to tell chefs what they can and can't use in their recipes. My favorite part is this "...trans fats can easily be replaced with substitute oils that taste the same or better..." Now a government is deciding what tastes good? Let's flesh this out a bit. Since we are incapable of making the right choices, let's come up with a list for our governments:

Mandatory stress tests before entering Morton's or Ruth's Chris.

Proof of healthy cholesterol counts to be kept on file at pizza joints, to be updated annually.

A nation-wide ban on all-you-can-eat buffets.

A two-drink maximum at all bars, restaurants, and private clubs.

No hot dogs at ball games.

National standards of portion control.

Grocery stores will be forced to provide information on our purchases, tracked through those discount cards, and customers will be prohibited from buying unhealthy items once their "limit" has been reached.

I wish I owned a bar in Cranberry or Peters.

UPMC: Your destination for a fresh liver, depression treatment and Super Bowl tips

University of Washington faculty studiously indifferent.

Everyone's getting in on the act. How long before the P-G or Trib spins this into a story?

MEDIA ADVISORY: UPMC EXPERTS PROVIDE SUPER BOWL TIPS

 

Being a Steelers Fan is Good for Your Mental Health

“We’re going to the Super Bowl!” Identifying with a sports team can provide a number of psychological benefits, according to psychiatrists at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. And, for most people, those benefits far out-weigh any negative effects that one may experience if his or her favorite team loses.

“On Super Bowl Sunday, even though fans aren’t playing in the game, by wearing black and gold and waving Terrible Towels, they can feel like they are part of the team. By becoming part of the ‘Steelers Nation,’ fans feel connected with players and fans from throughout the years. It’s a connection that spans race, economics and geography,” said Kurt Ackerman, M.D., Ph.D., medical director, UPMC Psychiatry Consultation – Liaison Service and an avid sports fan. “By feeling that they are part of the team, fans can experience vicariously the struggle and drama of overcoming great obstacles. Win or lose, fans get to feel a joy in connecting and being a part of something larger than themselves; winning the Super Bowl gives fans the opportunity to feel like, despite any problems they are experiencing in their own lives, they are number one in the world.

“Simply put, rooting for a sports team is fun – and having a little fun is always good for your mental health. Go Steelers!”

Being Superstitious (and Praying) Can Be Good for Your Mental Health Too

Being superstitious can be considered a healthy part of the balanced human agenda as long as it is kept in fun and with confidence that superstitious behaviors don’t actually affect outcomes, according to Paul Friday, Ph.D., director of clinical psychology at UPMC Shadyside.

Research shows 25 percent of Americans acknowledge their superstitions, and higher church attendance equates with greater occurrence of superstitions. That means those regular churchgoers who will be praying for the Steelers on Super Bowl Sunday morning are the same fans who will be sure to wear that certain lucky shirt and do everything exactly the same way they did during the Indianapolis and Denver games.

“Superstitions point to our need to cope with uncertainty and control an outcome. Superstitions involving teams with a long history help tie the whole region into a two-week celebration. But, since superstitions increase under conditions of uncertainty and perceived likelihood of failure, there actually may be less superstitious behavior by Steelers fans this week because the Steelers are no longer considered the underdogs,” said Dr. Friday. “But, just in case...”

If You Think It’s Mentally Tough Being a Fan...

While being a fan of a Super Bowl team can be stressful, nerve-wracking, exhilarating and sometimes heartbreaking, imagine how mentally challenging it is for the players. “Athletes at this level are usually well-trained to perform at their best both physically and mentally during high-pressure situations like the Super Bowl,” said Aimee Kimball, Ph.D., director of mental training at the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine.

“Whether their team is considered the underdog or not, these athletes will need to stay focused on the process and not the outcome, which is tough to do in the Super Bowl for even the best conditioned and most skilled player. When you get to this level, the team who is more mentally tough often has the advantage.

“While both teams will be well-prepared physically and strategically with a game plan, the players also will need to be mentally ready for the slightly different flow of a Super Bowl game compared to regular-season and play-off games, due to the ceremonial traditions, commercial hype and longer TV commercial breaks.”

“Players should stick to their regular-season routines and approach this game as if it’s any other game. After all, they are still just playing football,” added Dr. Kimball.

Steelers Fans in Detroit May Be Hazardous to Your Ears

Steelers fans this season learned all about noise levels in closed dome stadiums. If you will be at Ford Field next Sunday with the tens of thousands of other screaming Steelers fans, you may want to consider bringing along a pair of earplugs.

“Depending on where a fan is sitting in a domed stadium, the levels of sound, especially at the Super Bowl, can be damaging to the ears,” said Catherine Palmer, M.D., director of the UPMC Center for Audiology and Hearing Aid Services. “We hear about the teams’ planned no-huddle offense and not depending on audibles for a reason – it is loud there, often during the entire event. The players prepare for it and so should the fans.

“At a minimum, that high volume of sound can be very tiring,” said Dr. Palmer. “Wearing hearing protection could make the game more enjoyable and safer for many fans, and there are certain types of earplugs that still allow the most dedicated fan to enjoy the raucous environment, just at a quieter level of sound.”

Traditional Tailgate Menu May Not be Best Game Plan for Nervous Stomachs

Fried chicken wings, ribs, kielbasa, salsa, jalapeno cheese dip, beer...If you are planning the traditional Steelers tailgate fare for your Super Bowl party, you may want to reconsider for those guests with nervous stomachs, advises Leslie Bonci, R.D., director of nutrition at the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine. “Watch the fatty foods, especially. Consider these choices instead: grilled chicken skewers, braised short ribs, a fondue with chicken or beef dipped in broth, light popcorn, pretzels and baked chips.

“For nerves, provide crunchy foods like fresh vegetables and dip, chips, pickles and fresh peanuts in the shell. In the cooler, provide LIGHT beer along with plenty of non-alcoholic choices for guests to alternate,” added Bonci.

What’s on the Steelers’ Menu?

As nutrition consultant for the Steelers, UPMC’s Leslie Bonci said the players will not be eating anything new or different than during the regular season. What will be available to them in Detroit on Sunday, she said, is what is always available before games and will include breakfast options like made-to-order omelets, bagels, muffins, toast, bacon, turkey, sausage, waffles, oatmeal, cold cereal, yogurt, fruit, juices, milk, fruit shakes and grilled chicken breast. Dinner entrees will include grilled and baked fish, meat and salad.

There is always plenty of Gatorade, water and snacks such as sports bars, crackers and pretzels, she said. “Because game day nerves can sometimes suppress appetites, we make sure they eat well on Thursday, Friday and Saturday so they are well-fueled, focused on playing their best football,” Bonci added.

Photo of Nurse Chris by Katleen Cei. All rights reserved.