Christian Hohm is a hospital chaplain and looks after seriously ill patients. Many confide in him. Why do they do that – and how does he cope with the suffering he encounters?
Christian Hohm knocks gently, pushes the handle, goes into the hospital room and carefully closes the door behind him. “Good day, I hope I’m not disturbing you. I’m a hospital chaplain and I wanted to check on you.” An old woman is sitting at a small table in front of the hospital bed. Her short, white hair is carefully combed. “Are you a priest?” she asks. “No, I’m a pastoral assistant,” Hohm replies. “That doesn’t mean anything to me, but you’re welcome to sit down anyway,” she says kindly.
Hohm sits down on the chair opposite her. It only takes a few moments before Maria*, that’s the woman’s name, begins to explain why she is here, in the University Hospital in Würzburg. “I’ve been in a wheelchair for seven years. Despite that, I did my housework on my own, I even made my own food! Three days ago I fell and fell out of my wheelchair.” She lay helpless on the floor of her bathroom for eight hours. Then she was found. “I had nothing to drink, nothing with which I could get help. You have to ask yourself why the Lord lets you suffer so much.”
Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
