Crisis Pastoral Care by Thomas Shane

Author:Thomas Shane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hohm Press

A PROBABLE SUICIDE

“Tom, pick up 4571. It’s 911. They said it’s urgent.” Our department secretary’s message was crisp and to the point. Because we work at a level 1 trauma center, she is used to crisis calls. But until I came on the scene, she never got calls from law enforcement. She doesn’t know what to make of the occasional requests to respond to an unknown problem. “They always sound so official,” she says, and it unnerves her. But one thing she does know—something bad has happened.

I took the call and listened carefully as dispatch relayed the un- folding details: “Tom, need you to respond to the southbound rest area in I-135. We have a probable suicide. We believe the subject is still locked inside the cab of his 18-wheeler. Apparently his wife left him and he was despondent. He was staying with his parents and they thought he left on a trip to pick up a load of cattle, so they didn’t worry for a couple of days. Then his supervisor called and asked if they knew where he was because he was a ‘no-show’ for the pickup. That’s when his family got worried and notified us. They were the ones that found his truck. It’s all locked up. The sheriff is asking if you can respond.”

I started for Newton immediately. In this kind of work, you learn to set ordinary things aside in a hurry. As I approached the scene I tried to prepare myself for what I had to do. Chaplains most often are called to be present, to listen or to encourage healthy grieving. The old folk wisdom, “Don’t just stand there, do something” is reversed for chaplains. “Don’t do something, just stand there.” Chaplains will tell you that standing alongside deeply troubled people is tough, and can hurt. I also tried to imagine the horror his parents must be feeling. No matter how old your children are, you never completely stop worrying about them. It must be embedded in the deepest part of a parent’s genes. They can be adults with their own kids, but part of your heart will always be concerned about them.

When I watch a family disintegrate in grief when they hear the mournful news of an adult-child’s death, it does weird things to my spirit. I have a lifetime of dreams for my own adult children. And now I have dreams for my grandchildren as well. I would sparethem all from every heartbreak of life if I could. The thought of a tragedy harming them is too painful to consider.

Traffic was light so I made good time.

“Nine-o-nine to Newton.” It was the on-scene deputy. I ride with him a lot. He’s a friend as much as a colleague. His voice betrayed his anxiety.

“Go ahead, 909”

“Newton, if you can get 606, ask him to expedite. Family’s here. We’re keeping them a ways off. They’re pretty upset.”

“Ten-four, 909.”

“Six-o-six, direct,” I responded. “I’m about five out”

“Ten-four, 606. I’ll be standing by with the parents at the north end of the rest area.

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