Today

I had my D&C today. This was by far, the hardest day yet. My hope was that my faith and possibly a priest could help and comfort me today. I couldn't stop the tears during the pre-op. Things were hard, went wrong, thankfully my mom and friend were there. I was still in so much pain after the surgery and I hadn't had that before. They had to give me something in the IV to help. It wasn't until everything was over and I read the "material" on the way home that I realized it was worse. They bless the babies(which is good and expected) but I received a generic new age prayer I don't know what to call it in my time of suffering(from a Catholic hospital). I thought I would write it here in case I am crazy and this has some imprimatur that I am unaware of:

The hearts of faith and the minds of science tell us that life on this earth first came from creative waters.
May this small shell which has held waters of blessing be a reminder for us of the Great Love which creates us, sustains us and gathers us into the circle of life.
(Provided by the Family Birth Place
Saint Elizabeth Medical Center)

The other material on miscarriage I received was from the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. That was it. My friend said it was a good thing I didn't press the pastoral care issue, there was no priest, only some woman. The glimmer of hope I had in getting some solace and comfort in a Catholic hospital was a pipe dream. The whole experience was about as spiritual and Catholic as Wal-Mart. Then as I was coming to, I faintly heard someone singing Ave Maria. My heart sank as I realized it was the pope-hater, Barbra Streisand. I'm glad to be home. With my pictures of Mary and Jesus, my Catholic reading and my comfy couch and heating pad(and pain meds). I can tell you, last year when I had my miscarriage, it was different. I found my prayer card they gave me, a priest came and had some words of comfort and they didn't rush me out like today when I could barely walk or dress. The day is almost over and in my past(thank God). I have no idea how I will muddle through Christmas. My dreams of babies and the future of our family have changed so much that I am both sad and numb. I will try to muster finding hope and something to look forward to in the short term.
I share my experience for someone who may feel alone in their miscarriage journey. I now understand why our homes need to be tiny models of the Church. Sometimes you can't find Catholic in our hospitals, our schools or even our churches. It is in these times we will be thankful for our Catholic homes. I know I am of mine.

St.Elizabeth Advance Directive, Abortifacients and NKRTL

Here is the link to the "Advance Directive" on the St. E's site.

Living Will and Health Care Surrogate Designation

It is a form, you need to check certain lines, it is as simple as that. Food and water CAN be taken away at a Catholic hospital so the patient would die from dehydration and starvation. It is a CHOICE. It is one thing to stop food and water if the organs are shutting down and they are near death and can no longer take nourishment. This is an entirely different matter. This can be done if the patient is terminal or not. Food and water should never be considered medical care. If it is, then my insurance should be covering my trips to Kroger's(I will need to look into that).
Here is the details of this issue and can also be found on the NKRTL website:

"The Diocese of Covington shall fully implement the papal teaching on the administration of food and water as a moral obligation to sustain and comfort those persons who are in a terminal condition. The moral obligation to provide nutrition and hydration is clearly and eloquently expressed in Pope John Paul’s papal address, March 20, 2004." (Gospel of Life/Respect Life Policy Statements, No. 52). This Synod document also states: "The Diocese shall publish a model Durable Power of Attorney Form for use in health care-related situations, in complete accordance with Vatican directives on nutrition and hydration." But the contrary anti-life documents are still being used at St. Elizabeth Hospital, authorizing the withdrawal of food and water.

And on the abortifacient drugs that can be administered at St. Elizabeth, the Bishops of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky (CCK) issued a signed public statement approving the administration of the abortifacient drug (denominated as "emergency contraception") in Catholic hospitals. How is this moral? How is this building up the Church and what she teaches?
You may have noticed this topic strikes a cord with me. Don't call a hospital "Catholic" when you are providing death services masked as "not all patients are Catholic" or whatever the reason may be. There is never a reason to kill the weak or defenseless. I used to be a die-hard feminist in my college years so it took me a long time to get to where I am now. If some of these issues have been settled and are now in line with the teaching of the Magisterium, I would love that information and would be glad to hear it.
From another perspective, I found this article: End-of-life teaching more than 'dilemmas, controversies,' priest says
I think it is much more healthy and christian to look at the human as the image and likeness of God before we turn end-of-life treatment into political spin. Comfort and kindness are simple enough measures to decide what someone needs.