Interfaith Services Help Patients & Families
Find Spiritual & Emotional Healing
Interfaith Healing Services
Dr. Arenson has developed an Interfaith Healing Service and an
annual Healing Candlelight Service, which he leads for his patients
and their families. The services are co-sponsored by the Swedish
Hospital Chaplaincy at Swedish Medical Center, Englewood, Colorado.
During the aggressive medical treatment that is provided by Dr.
Arenson and the Colorado Neurological Institute's Brain & Spinal
Tumors Program, we strive to not lose track of the importance of
healing to our patients and their families. Although we strive for
a cure for brain cancer, the goal of spiritual healing is often
more attainable. Healing, to make sound or whole or to cause an
undesirable condition to be overcome can often be obtained by many
of our patients and our families. Our interfaith service
focuses on music as a way to tie us together in our common desire
to transcend our pain.
 Dr.
Arenson's Interfaith Healing Services were the subject of an article
in the March/April 2005 issue of "Spirituality & Health"
magazine. The article was written by Shelly Vickroy, whose husband,
Scott, is a long-term survivor and brain tumor patient of Dr. Arenson's.
The article appeared on pages 82-83 in the column, "What Goes
on There, Really?" — which provides a personal viewpoint
on what it is like to attend and participate in a meaningful event.
The bimonthly print magazine reports on the ideas, the people, and
the practices of the current spiritual renaissance and is available
on newsstands.
The Interfaith Healing Service is a beautiful service that combines
music and prayer to offer comfort to those who wish to find spiritual
healing. The services are a combined effort of the Swedish Medical
Center Chaplaincy and the CNI Center for Brain & Spinal Tumors.
No reservations are necessary and you can attend as often as you
like.
Services are held every other month in the
Chapel of Swedish Medical Center; 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
For those who may be hesitant to attend for your first time,
our Program Assistant, Lorre Gibson, will be happy to arrange to
escort you to the service. Please call Lorre at (303) 806-7420 to make arrangements.
Dr. Arenson leads a recent Healing Service.
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The service is held monthly in the Chapel
at Swedish Medical Center. |
Annual Reflecting The
Light Celebration
Every Spring, we hold a special "celebration of life"
service on the grounds of Swedish Medical Center to remember those
that have died from the disease of CNS cancer, to acknowledge those
who continue to struggle daily with deficits brought on by this
disease, to thank those who give so much of themselves to make a
difference in the lives of individuals touched by this disease,
to celebrate the courage and spirit of our survivors, and to take
a few moments to stop, to be together, and to acknowledge and thank
each other.
The 9th Annual "Reflecting the Light" Celebration was held at 5:30pm on Wednesday, May 21, in the fish pond area between Swedish and Craig Hospitals, as is customary. Highlights of the event were the inspiring music of Carla Sciaky and her 16-year-old daughter, Chloe, and the ceremony in which many patients and their families lit candles honoring loved ones.
It was nearly "standing room only" as Dr. Arenson welcomed the group.
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Dr. Arenson praised the courage of his patients and their loved ones, as Carla and Chloe prepare to play and sing
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Attendees heard uplifting stories from
gratefull patients and family.
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An emotional "thank you!" for Dr. Arenson.
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Attendees listened intently to the inspiring stories and music.
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Spiritual Counseling
For those patients and families that wish to utilize the services
of a chaplain, especially during their hospitalization, Swedish
Medical Center has a designated chaplain for our team. The chaplain
attends all of our team conferences and is an integral part of
the support services that we provide. Due to time constraints,
the chaplain is not readily available on the out-patient side,
but is available during hospitalizations and during the healing
services.
Chaplain Wade Jensen, who has
served Swedish Medical Center
and Dr. Arenson's Brain & Spinal
Tumor Program since 2006,
finds great satisfaction in
counseling patients and their
families at difficult times in their
lives. He also serves as a chaplain
in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
Along with his compassion for
people, Wade enjoys good coffee,
fishing, weightlifting, running and
cooking. He and his wife, Grace,
have a daughter, Emily Grace,
born March 6, 2006.
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