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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
March 2005 |
Smoking opponents voice views at capitol to support ITPC
By Daniel R. Gangler
INDIANAPOLIS - More than 125 participants, including United Methodists, of the statewide interfaith Hoosier Faith and Health Coalition heard hard facts and moving testimonials about the effects of smoking during a Valentine's Day luncheon and then marched to the Indiana Statehouse to visit the governor and legislators in support of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency.
During the luncheon held at Christ Church Cathedral, Dan Evans, CEO of United Methodist-related Clarian Health Partners, said, "One of the shortcomings of the anti-smoking movement is that we have spent a great deal of time talking with each other. We don't need to convince each other. We need to convince others for a variety of reasons - economics, personal addiction, politics, insufficient resources. Those are the people we have to talk to."
In his 15-minute pep talk, Evans told the anti-smoking advocates that they need to be direct with politicians about smoking issues. "We are down to power now, not persuasion. Persuasion will not work. We have to take them to the action step, and the next step, and tell them that there will be a political consequence for not doing the right thing. You won't vote for them. Your neighbors won't vote for them. That's from whence their power comes. And that's from whence they take their orders."
Evans mentioned the steps that have been taken at Clarian Health to provide a smoke-free hospital environment that will soon spread to the Clarian campus as well. He also reported that more than 2,000 of the 12,000 Clarian employees are now under managed personal health care. Many of 2,000 are now in smoking cessation programs.
Personal testimonies
During the program, two women shared their personal stories of watching loved ones die as a result of life-long smoking. Lorene Sandifur, a Kokomo school teacher, related what the death of her husband, Gary, has meant to her personally. He died three years ago of cancer at the age of 51 and had smoked since he was 19.
"It's not only the big things I miss and my boys miss, but it's the little things that Gary said he was going to miss. He said he regretted that he wasn't going to see his sons get married or see his grandchildren. And of course those are the big things.
"There are so many little things, like hiding notes in his pants, or handing him a Phillips screwdriver when he asked for a flat one, or saying, 'Hey Lorene, slow down, this isn't a race.' I miss growing old together with him. And I especially miss praying together, thanking the Lord for our blessings.
"My husband, Gary, was so committed to talking to kids about not smoking in his last months. He spoke from his heart and he spoke out of love. He took the time to share his story with every kid he saw smoking whether at a restaurant, a store, at a town hall meeting," Sandifur said.
Parish Nurse Patricia Thorlton, of Greenwood United Methodist Chruch and program coordinator for parish nursing and health ministries at Clarian, for the first time publicly told the story of her brother's death due to life-long smoking.
In October 1998 her brother became short of breath during a state cross country meet at Indiana University. The next day he was admitted to Union Hospital in Terre Haute and found he had cancer.
"The cardiologist stood in front of me and said boldly, 'your brother has lung cancer. He is full of it. What do you want to do?' My answer - 'I'm going to take him to Indianapolis to IU.' I took him by ambulance that evening. Surgery was scheduled for the next day. The surgery was supposed to be three to four hours. The surgeon approached me in the waiting room 40 minutes into the procedure. This was an open-close case, full of cancer, all related to a smoking addiction that began in adolescence," she told the quiet audience.
Thorlton said she placed him in hospice care. "He died quietly and peacefully at home on Jan. 18, 2000. Age 52." She continued, "He charged to me to say 'if you are smoking, quit; if you aren't, don't start. Try to help someone else.' What we shared together was a touching journey."
Other testimonials were given by the Rev. Samuel Ruiz of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod; Dr. Sayyid Syeed, secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America; and Rabbi Lew Weiss, a chaplain at Methodist Hospital of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation.
Cost is enormous
During the luncheon, Dr. Richard Feldman, director of the residency program at St. Francis Hospital Family Practice Center, said that cirgarette smoking now claims the greatest cause of preventable deaths in the United States. He said government reports show that more than 10,200 Hoosiers die of smoking related diseases each year. Tobacco use in Indiana cost Hoosiers $1.6 billion a year in health care expenditures. Indiana spends a total of $380 million each year along for Medicaid payments caused by tobacco use.
At the capitol
Following the luncheon, many of the advocated went to the capitol and presented to Ellen Whitt, Governor Mitch Daniels' deputy chief-of-staff, signed resolutions from 234 congregations and religious groups across the state that asked him to restore full funding to the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency to the Centers for Disease Control recommended $32.5 million level. Last year ITPC received $10.8 million and had to cut their program drastically. Advocates also talked with and gave information to state senators and representatives about supporting ITPC funding.
Later in the day, Aaron Doeppers, regional director of the Tobacco Free Kids campaign and sponsor of the luncheon meal, was able with the assistance of Rep. Vaneta Becker of Evansville to present on the floor of the House of Representatives an award recognizing Rep. William Crawford of Indianapolis, former chairman of the House Ways an Means Committee, for his efforts last year in maintaining ITPC. In presenting the award, Rep. Becker, mentioned the important work of both TFK and the Hoosier Faith and Health Coalition.
Doeppers reported on Feb. 15 that the House Ways and Means committee reported out the budget which included the continuation of current $10 million funding levels for ITPC.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008