Review: God's Hotel by Victoria Sweet

The latest memoir I completed reading was God's Hotel by Victoria Sweet.  This was a doctor's memoir of her over 20 year experience at one hospital named Laguna Honda.  She examines the theory of "Slow Medicine" requiring a physician to get up close and personal with a patient as well as to spend time with him/her in order to fully understand the patient's medical issues.  She discusses also the politics inherent in going from "Slow Medicine" to a system called "Delivery Of Health Care".  Dr. Sweet did an intensive study of a nun named Hildegard of the 12th century and her pioneering ways in terms of administering quality medical care.  Finally, the reader gets to see the hospital's transition from a 100 year old medieval castle to a gleaming, 21st century new hospital and all the positives and negatives contained in both facilities.

Initially, Dr. Sweet speaks of her strategy for treating patients which involves a thorough workup including patient history, physical examination, and blood tests as well as x-rays.  Since this is a hospital for the sick poor, the doctors have limited access to new diagnosing technologies and they each generall read their own x-rays.  Because Laguna Honda was made up of wards whereby patients were often together in one open area, there became a sense of community among the patients, nurses, and doctors.  Dr. Sweet learns what it is like to be a patient because she sees her patients two, three, and four times a day.  It is so vastly different from the hospitals of today where you might see your surgeon prior to surgery, remain in the hospital, be visited by one of the surgeon's associates, and never come back into contact with your surgeon until after you have been discharged and return to his/her private offices for a follow up visit.

Dr. Sweet learns that just when you think there is nothing more you can do for a patient, there really is, but it lies in the little things.  For example, obtaining a different diet for the patient, having the patient examined and fitted for glasses, or even obtaining shoes and clothes for an indigent patient.  According to Dr. Sweet the analogy that is best for the doctor/patient relationship is to see the patient as a plant and the doctor as the gardener.  The secret of healing is the relationship between doctor and patient.  This relationship takes time and it's not according to administrative standards, an efficient use of a doctor's time. 

Dr. Sweet studied Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th century Benedictine nun who studied medicine under monks and in monastaries before building one of her own whereby she could treat patients in her fashion.  Hildegard's medical strategy involved removing any obstructions the patient has in order to heal and then restoring life spirit to the patient through Earth, Water, Air, and Fire or rather good nutrition and vitamins, proper liquids, deep sleep, and sunlight.  Hildegard's strategy for treating a patient would be to observe the patient, check patient's vital signs and respiration, examine the body part disturbing the patient along with the patient's blood and urine.  Finally, Hildegard would give a prescription for the patient inclusive of a regime for how to live and then also a herbal mixture.  The precription or regime for how to live would include Dr. Diet (foods to eat), Dr. Quiet (how much exercise and sleep for a patient), and Dr. Merryman (how much sex a patient required and the emotions needed for optimal health to be achieved or restored. 

The interesting part of Hildegard's medical system was that it was based on a system of fours and the effects the four seasons had on plants, animals, and humans.  She felt a patient needed the right balance of the four humors inside the body which depends on seasonal changes outside the body.  Dr. Sweet actually went on a pilgramage to Spain in order to learn what the experience of being an "other" or "stranger" or even "patient" might be like.  In other words, what is it like to leave home and immerse yourself by speaking a different language, eating different foods, and encountering different expectations.  For the average patient a hospital stay might indeed make you feel like a complete stranger with all the medical jargon, interesting hospital food, and how your life suddenly changes because of a chronic illness or disease.  One day you are a healthy teacher and the next you are learning to cope with disability; your own world and priorities are turned upside down. 

The best things Dr. Sweet seemed to take from her time at Laguna Honda Hospital was that a patient needs hospitality (little things like a toothbrush, soap, shampoo, proper diet, clothes, shoes).  Also a hospital needs to provide the patient with community or a place where they can share and learn from others experiencing an illness similar to theirs with staff that promotes activities and an atmosphere of inclusiveness.  Finally, a hospital needs to provide charity whether that is in taking extra time to make sure a patient receives proper care after discharge, the patient has a decent place to stay or live, as well as indulging a patient's emotional happiness which may be catering to their likes/dislikes whether it involves food, music, or activities. 

I enjoyed this memoir quite a bit.  Some of the cases encountered by Dr. Sweet were scary and unpredictable.  At times I felt like my teeth were going to drop out when I read what was being experienced by a patient at Laguna Honda.  It was also eye opening to see how much politics influence health care.  I think the main reason I enjoyed this memoir is because it gave me a chance to see how a doctor views a patient, hospital red tape, and how they develop and implement their personal philosophy of medicine.

Publishing Update and Review

Well, the best way to summarize my experience with the publishing industry presently is crickets.  Maybe the agents and editors are all on vacation; maybe they are all at conferences; or maybe they are all just hunkered down somewhere reading manuscripts.  So, in the meantime, I am continuing to read memoir.  I just finished the book The Man Who Quit Money by Mark Sundeen.  I am attempting to broaden my memoir horizons by reading memoirs written by and about men; big applause from my husband.  This particular book was a journey about a guy who actually did leave his last thirty dollars in a telephone booth in the year 2000 and then basically went to live in the Moab Desert.  He grew up in a fundamentalist household in Colorado and slowly becomes disenfranchised with our capitalist system of buying and selling as well as debt and credit.  Admirably, he worked at several interesting career positions where he assisted in a homeless shelter and a women's shelter.  He did not like the abuses of the system by his boss at one place nor the way people were treated at these facilities.  He even travels to India initially to pursue Hinduism, but eventually he studies Buddhism and the life of a monk.  If I remember correctly, at one point he joins the peace corp and lives and
serves abroad.  The main point comes when Suelo as this man is known drives his car off a cliff  in order
to commit suicide and lives.  If there ever was a person that "goes with the flow", it is truly this man.  At one point, he drives with two people to Alaska and takes on salmon fishing.  He works at community gardens, participates in the concept of Free Meals, and basically could be classified as a jack of all trades.  In this book he has made his home in a cave in the Moab desert.  He routinely goes searching for food in dumpsters.  Honestly, at various points throughout the book I was fearful for him.  I am glad he found peace,
security, and happiness living without money, but I have to say it is definitely not for me. 

I would worry about the following issues:  brushing my teeth and having my teeth cleaned every four months; cleanliness, food (I am not one to dumpster dive), medications (if I didn't take these I probably would have gone blind, deaf, and fallen over dead a while ago); medical care; shelter (I don't even like camping much less cave dwellings; clothes (I really like having freshly laundered clothes; if I had to wash them in a river I probably could, but what about wrinkles and appearing disheveled); water (I would probably obtain a parasite drinking from a river and that would be the end of me); shoes and deodorant (I do not have as many pairs of shoes as some of my acquaintances, but I refuse to smell bad); hair cuts ( I have short hair and I don't like long hair.  Yes I could cut my own hair, but that could be disastrous); travel (I am not one to hitch a ride with any person because there's a good chance I would never be seen again or found dead); and finally, I think the one premise I agree with Suelo on is finding spirituality in nature because let's face it, I know way too many supposed "Christians" who attend church every Sunday and are still some of the most greedy, evil people I come across on a weekly basis.  Just drive around Atlanta and watch how many people with Jesus bumper stickers cut you off, cuss you out, or just plain veer into your lane and run you off the road.  So while I admire this man for his courage to lead a simple life without money, I know I could not lead the same life.  Also, what is more important is that I do not think I would want to live this type of life.  I still think you can be moderately secure monetarily and be quite generous as well.

Publishing Update and Review

Since June 1st I have given my manuscript to two literary agents and have a small publishing house that has asked for completion of an author questionnaire and book brief.  I did have one publisher call and ask me to email the first three chapters of the book; however, the cell connection was not good and neither the email address or phone number he gave me proved valid.  In the meantime I just work on reading and reviewing other memoirs and writing my next manuscript.

I decided to branch out and read some memoirs written by men.  I know, it is truly shocking.  Female writers are so more forthright in their writing; I liked the concept of writing without pulling your punches.  I picked up the memoir Mrs Kennedy And Me by Clint Hill, Special Agent, United States Secret Service.  It appears he also had the help of another writer by the name of Lisa McCubbin.  Mr. Hill was assigned at the beginning of the JFK administration to the security detail of Mrs. Kennedy.  He was not exactly thrilled by this to say the least.  Mrs. Kennedy had already dispensed with the first secret service agent assigned to her.  I think Mr. Hill had been on LBJ's security detail and it proved rewarding so he thought he would not get near the action, drama, and world exposure with a first lady.  WRONG!  Mrs. Kennedy proved to be one of our more active and stylish first ladies.  She and Mr. Hill appeared to get along well.  He was able to anticipate her requirements when traveling and he usually tried to accomodate her request to be able to live her life and participate in all the activities she was accustomed without interference or limitations. 

Mrs. Kennedy spent a fair amount of time in Florida as did Mr. Hill.  He perused her mail to make sure nothing adverse came to Mrs. Kennedy including the hate mail.  John and Caroline were around the ages of his children so he was also an asset in assisting with the children.  The funniest parts are when the reader learns of all the activities Mr. Hill had to learn just to be able to keep up with Mrs. Kennedy as her security detail.  She was really rather shy and did not like crowds, but she learned to blossom and become a great resource for her husband and ambassador for the U.S.  Her travels were immense.  She liked to vacation in Greece.  She traveled to Paris, India, Pakistan Italy, and Cape Cod.  Mr. Hill blended with this family well. What was most touching is that Mr. Hill realized how much tragedy Mrs. Kennedy had known in her short life span.  She had miscarried, given birth to a son who then died a week later, and was the person sitting next to the President when he was shot riding in an open convertible in Dallas.  She literally had his head in her lap the whole way to the hospital.  Mr. Hill was the agent covering her and the President while straddling the back of the convertible.  Not only was this incident traumatizing for Mr. Hill, but Mrs. Kennedy appeared to never be the same.  She waited in the hospital for doctors to try and save her husband sitting in a chair outside the operating room in her dress and pillbox hat spattered with blood, bone fragments, and pieces of President Kennedy's brain.  The light in her eyes was extinguished according to Mr. Hill.  And yet Mrs. Kennedy flew with the President's body back to the White House and participated in the swearing in of LBJ while in flight.  At one point, she rushed to Mr. Hill asking what he would do now?  In other words, what would he be assigned by the secret service.  She made sure following the funeral of her husband and move to Georgetown that Mr. Hill and the security detail in charge of her children were commended for their service and made available to rise within the ranks of the secret service.

Mrs. Kennedy died of lymphoma in 1994.  Mr. Hill was sure he would be long gone before Mrs. Kennedy ever was so it was as shocking to him as it was to the rest of us.  Mrs. Kennedy was a class act and such an incredibly strong woman.  Clint Hill's memoir Mrs Kennedy And Me is now one of my most recommended to read memoirs.  What a gentleman.