Table 4.

Psychospiritual Supportive Care (a)

Henry, 75, was admitted with metastatic prostate cancer and spinal cord compression. He was bedbound, otherwise alert, orientated, and had a good appetite. He felt that if he could not go home, there was no purpose to living. He loved having his lower legs massaged but he could not relax and talked throughout the session, ending with the lament, “What is the point?!” No amount of talking or massage seemed to ease his anguish. At the third session his wife, son, and daughter were present and when he continued to lament, “What is the point?! What is the point?!” the complementary therapist replied, “Henry, you have said this many times. It sounds like life feels very dark and dire to you. When life feels so dire, what is most important to you?” He replied immediately, “My family! Spending time with my family, having my family around me.” At this point his son turned to the window with tears in his eyes. Henry continued to talk about how important his family was to him, and the complementary therapist left Henry with his family. Henry's daughter followed the complementary therapist out and said, “Thank you. You have no idea how important it was for us to hear Dad say that.” This was a turning point for Henry and his family.