Another update
Thanks for your continued prayers for my relative who attempted suicide last month. He was moved from a medical floor to the psych unit a few weeks ago, though he is still on a feeding tube for nutrition. The doctors have changed his medication from antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication to one that stabilizes bipolar disorder. He doesn't have an official bipolar diagnosis, but this medication experiment may prompt one. Some of the literature I've read says antidepressants will make a bipolar patient worse, and he appears to have reacted that way.
The more researchers study bipolar disorder, the more they find a continuum of symptoms, particularly in the manic phase. Not all bipolar patients will behave as if they're "king of the world" while having a manic episode. Some will be agitated, paranoid, unable to sleep or concentrate, or have thoughts swirling like a hamster running on its wheel. The more I read, the more I marvel at the mystery of the human mind.
The best news I've heard yet is that my relative's care team is developing a plan for his release from the hospital that will involve a month of day treatment. Our big fear was that he would be under-treated and sent home too early with no support in place, with disastrous results. The developing plan sounds very promising.
Please continue to pray for his continued progress in therapy and good results with medications. Pray for his wife and daughters to be stengthened and filled with hope.
10.31.2005
10.09.2005
Delight from Denmark
Last night, Joel and I watched a film called "Italiensk for Begyndere" (Itallian for Beginners). I vaguely remember seeing previews for this at an art house theater back in our pre-kid days. While it was marketed as a comedy for American audiences, the film defies genre classification, as do most films from this studio.
The first character we meet is Andreas, a young pastor sent to temporarily fill the pulpit in a suburban town's Danish national church. The former pastor was removed from his post because he became unhinged after his wife's death and assaulted the organist. Pastor Wredmann continues to lurk around the church, shouting atheistic ideas during services and generally terrorizing the congregation, which has shrunk to a handful of elderly women and the paid staff (verger and two choristers). The verger, a middle-aged woman with a checkered past of drug addiction and robbery, encourages Andreas in his work to revive the ailing church that helped her build a new life.
Andreas stays at a local hotel, where he meets the receptionist, Jorgen and Jorgen's work friends, Finn and Guilia, who work at the restaurant. Jorgen's boss wants him to fire Finn, a handsome but surly fellow who regularly insults customers. Jorgen sees Finn as a lost soul--an orphan with a troubled life--and procrastinates firining his pal. Guilia is young, Italian, and infatuated with Jorgen, though he's too sunk in gloom about his failings with women to notice the woman in front of him.
The film progresses as we see the characters going about everyday tasks. Finn picks up the restaurant's bread order from the bakery, and we meet Olympia, a young woman who's so incredibly clumsy it's funny only once, and thereafter quite poignant. We follow her home to see how she's bullied and cowed by her cranky, bedridden father. Andreas goes for a haircut to Jorgen's hairdresser and we meet Karen, who is also saddled with an abusive, ill parent. In Karen's case, it's a mother who complains of chronic pain and seems to lash out because of it.
Many of the characters converge at a nightschool course on Itallian. When the teacher has a heart attack, the class is in crisis. As they seek a way to continue, the characters' lives become entwined in interesting ways full of love and second chances.
I really loved the non-Hollywood feel of this film. The characters seem so ordinary, doing normal jobs, suffering losses and hardships that are common in life. Strangely, this is what makes them compelling. The drama and tensions are organic, never forced. Only one scene had the potential to be Hollywood-style drama--when Andreas confronts Pastor Wredmann. His confrontation is so peppered with love and grace for his broken predecessor, I know Hollywood would never film such a scene. Why is it in American drama, characters can't resist zinging a few home truths? Both pastors are widowers in this film, but Andreas doesn't even mention that he was able to keep his faith in the very same crisis that shattered Wredmann spiritually. Andreas' faithfulness to his calling as shepherd of the flock is rewarded in satisfying ways.
Even if you resist foreign films, give "Itallian for Beginners" a try. Its quiet charms will surprise you.
Last night, Joel and I watched a film called "Italiensk for Begyndere" (Itallian for Beginners). I vaguely remember seeing previews for this at an art house theater back in our pre-kid days. While it was marketed as a comedy for American audiences, the film defies genre classification, as do most films from this studio.
The first character we meet is Andreas, a young pastor sent to temporarily fill the pulpit in a suburban town's Danish national church. The former pastor was removed from his post because he became unhinged after his wife's death and assaulted the organist. Pastor Wredmann continues to lurk around the church, shouting atheistic ideas during services and generally terrorizing the congregation, which has shrunk to a handful of elderly women and the paid staff (verger and two choristers). The verger, a middle-aged woman with a checkered past of drug addiction and robbery, encourages Andreas in his work to revive the ailing church that helped her build a new life.
Andreas stays at a local hotel, where he meets the receptionist, Jorgen and Jorgen's work friends, Finn and Guilia, who work at the restaurant. Jorgen's boss wants him to fire Finn, a handsome but surly fellow who regularly insults customers. Jorgen sees Finn as a lost soul--an orphan with a troubled life--and procrastinates firining his pal. Guilia is young, Italian, and infatuated with Jorgen, though he's too sunk in gloom about his failings with women to notice the woman in front of him.
The film progresses as we see the characters going about everyday tasks. Finn picks up the restaurant's bread order from the bakery, and we meet Olympia, a young woman who's so incredibly clumsy it's funny only once, and thereafter quite poignant. We follow her home to see how she's bullied and cowed by her cranky, bedridden father. Andreas goes for a haircut to Jorgen's hairdresser and we meet Karen, who is also saddled with an abusive, ill parent. In Karen's case, it's a mother who complains of chronic pain and seems to lash out because of it.
Many of the characters converge at a nightschool course on Itallian. When the teacher has a heart attack, the class is in crisis. As they seek a way to continue, the characters' lives become entwined in interesting ways full of love and second chances.
I really loved the non-Hollywood feel of this film. The characters seem so ordinary, doing normal jobs, suffering losses and hardships that are common in life. Strangely, this is what makes them compelling. The drama and tensions are organic, never forced. Only one scene had the potential to be Hollywood-style drama--when Andreas confronts Pastor Wredmann. His confrontation is so peppered with love and grace for his broken predecessor, I know Hollywood would never film such a scene. Why is it in American drama, characters can't resist zinging a few home truths? Both pastors are widowers in this film, but Andreas doesn't even mention that he was able to keep his faith in the very same crisis that shattered Wredmann spiritually. Andreas' faithfulness to his calling as shepherd of the flock is rewarded in satisfying ways.
Even if you resist foreign films, give "Itallian for Beginners" a try. Its quiet charms will surprise you.
10.08.2005
Update
Sorry to keep you in suspense. I had the flu Saturday, Sunday and Monday and struggled all week to catch up with work left undone while ill.
My relative had surgery last friday to repair his cheekbone and jaw. The surgery was quite long, but the doctors were relieved to find that his cheekbone was not shattered by the gunshot, but just fractured. They put the bone to rights using plates and pins. He will have his jaw wired for nearly a month so the bones can heal.
Right after the surgery, two of my siblings went to see him and said they were amazed that he did indeed still have a face. He was very puffy and bruised, but far more intact than they expected, considering the nature of the injury (birding shotgun at close range). He wrote notes begging for doughnuts and hoagies and other treats he won't be able to have for some time. The doctors are unsure of whether he will be able to chew again or will need to be tube fed indefinitely.
This week, he was moved out of the ICU and is on a trach that enables him to talk. Meetings with a psychiatrist have begun anew.
Please continue to pray for his physical healing, and especially for emotional & spiritual healing and renewal. His wife and daughters are devastated emotionally and also covet your prayers as they cope with the long-term ramifications of his mental illness.
Sorry to keep you in suspense. I had the flu Saturday, Sunday and Monday and struggled all week to catch up with work left undone while ill.
My relative had surgery last friday to repair his cheekbone and jaw. The surgery was quite long, but the doctors were relieved to find that his cheekbone was not shattered by the gunshot, but just fractured. They put the bone to rights using plates and pins. He will have his jaw wired for nearly a month so the bones can heal.
Right after the surgery, two of my siblings went to see him and said they were amazed that he did indeed still have a face. He was very puffy and bruised, but far more intact than they expected, considering the nature of the injury (birding shotgun at close range). He wrote notes begging for doughnuts and hoagies and other treats he won't be able to have for some time. The doctors are unsure of whether he will be able to chew again or will need to be tube fed indefinitely.
This week, he was moved out of the ICU and is on a trach that enables him to talk. Meetings with a psychiatrist have begun anew.
Please continue to pray for his physical healing, and especially for emotional & spiritual healing and renewal. His wife and daughters are devastated emotionally and also covet your prayers as they cope with the long-term ramifications of his mental illness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)