The Weight | Featuring Ringo Starr and Robbie Robertson | Playing For Ch...

''The WEIGHT''

PLAYING FOR CHANGE

To Whom It May Concern -

 Laguna Honda Hospital

—I’ve been a long term resident/patient at Laguna Honda Hospital for many years. I had a couple strokes and heart attacks along the way. I lived for a time in the old Laguna Honda Hospital and the new in 2010. I remember when Dr. Sweet wrote her book, ‘’God’s Hotel,’’ about LHH. As a matter-of-fact, Dr. Sweet was my doctor, for a time.

—Over the years, I’ve seen many people come and go at LHH. Recently, we have been told other arrangements are being made for the residents/patients…as our funding has been terminated and the powers-that-be are closing down the hospital. This news has horrified many people…residents/patients and staff alike. We aren’t quite sure when this news was made public, but many of us were blindsided by this. It’s like having the rug pulled out from under us.

—Many have asked - Why? What happened? It seems a couple patients overdosed, so the hospital has been defunded heading for a close down. A few years ago there were some employees floating around compromising photos of residents/patients. Those incharge of Social Security have decided that enough is enough. Defund them and shut them down.

—A very sad end to this as there are many, many employees & residents/patients who had no clue that this was happening and really didn’t even know that they were talking about our hospital when this was on the news. Hearing of the closing, one began talking about pushing a shopping cart around Safeway parking lot with his wheelchair asking for spare change. Another speaks of going to live in SFGH emergency room. And, they are not feeling too good on top of it. Not too realistic…but, this reaction or overreaction makes as much sense as closing Laguna Honda Hospital, to some of us.

—Not everyone who enters Laguna Honda ends up as a drug addict or in a compromised photo. Some, who can, actually thrive and do well. Some are actually released and continue on. To the powers-that-be, we need your support. Please find a different way to fix the problems you’re finding that are much less dramatic and traumatic. A lot of good things take place at LHH. Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. Thank you!

A CULTURE OF CHANGE - LAGUNA HONDA

 

A CULTURE OF CHANGE

---This document only came into my possession recently. I remember very vividly and really did think that we had finally found our way out of what we were doing and would finally make some kind of progress with this whole thing. I thought this was a new progressive way to see healthcare. This document provided me with much information I didn’t know and gave me a more complete ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at why something I felt very strong about, failed as it did.

---I would suggest that anyone read the document from the controller’s office and assess why it never had much of a chance. We tried to change a sinking ship and have it ready to sail, again, almost overnight. I remember running into Mayor Gavin Newsom outside of D3 in the old building. He was there for the ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for later on that day. He said I’ll see you at the ribbon cutting ceremony. I told him that I’m protesting the whole thing and am not going. He looked at me quizzically, but had to go. The reason for my protest was that we cosmetically built a new building that would surely impress certain people in the city (which was a very good thing that it did,) but we never did the necessary work touched upon by Lumetra, etc. To this day I think we would have benefited greatly (staff + resident) from many of the suggestions given at the time. Reading the document opened my eyes to things I was not aware of. I’m still working through it. And, NO...it was NOT the NEW GALLEY situation.

---Anyway, I hope that you enjoy reading the 7 page pdf. There are many still here from those times. Be Well and Take Care.

---There is one thing that I would like to add. I am 70 years old now. I was 52 when I had the stroke, etc. Fighting City Hall was easier at a young age. I think that some can now appreciate that it is very different being the helper, then the one who needs the help. At the very least you learn how different being helped by someone who actually wants to be helpful can be. We will all go through this at sometime. Be kind at ALL times. It pays dividends.

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To Find The pdf

GOOGLE the following

lagunahonda.org-a culture of change pdf

CLICK - A CULTURE OF CHANGE - LAGUNA HONDA

NO HANDS Penn and Teller - A MAGICIAN WITH NO HANDS DOES...SLEIGHT OF HAND!

 

EXTRAORDINARY -

THIS WILL BLOW YOUR MIND. IT DID MINE!