While at Mercy for a week, Dowd said he found great comfort from chaplains Mike Darmour and Ginny Brown. It gave me a lift every time. Dowd also liked visiting the chapel near the entrance to the hospital. In a hospital bustling with patients and staff, the quiet of the interdenominational chapel was a comfort, he said. I could do my own individual praying and keep in touch with the Lord.
Prayer is the best medicine.
Dowd, who is a Protestant, said he appreciated the work of the chaplains and their willingness to help people from a variety of faiths. The Rev. Mike McCleary, a Catholic priest at nearby St. Columba Church who also serves as a hospital chaplain, said when people are in the hospital, the important thing is to try to understand their religious convictions and support them. Although chaplains deal with a variety of difficult issues, including death and serious injuries, there s a joyous side to their work as well. Watching patients such as Dowd recuperate is uplifting and illustrates how chaplains can benefit patients in need, Brown said. Contents copyright 2001, the Durango Herald.