SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT

Fiel Andrei L. Borata BSN 2-A

H: Sources of hope, meaning, comfort, strength, peace, love, and connection

 What is there in your life that gives you internal support?

-I have strong faith in God. Whatever challenge it is that comes my way, I know I
can surpass it with His help. We just need to trust the process because He will never
leave us.

 What are your sources of hope, strength, comfort, and peace?

-My main sources of positivity are God and my family. Their mere presence and
moral support give me comfort, strength, and peace within myself as I battle with my
illness.

 What do you hold on to during difficult times?

-I hold on to the thought that “Tomorrow is another day.” It is a fact that change
is the only permanent thing in the world. Today may be difficult and full of unexpected
obstacles, but tomorrow can be a new and refreshing start for everyone. There is always
hope, as long as you believe and never give up.

 What sustains you and keeps you going?

-My role as a parent to my four children keeps me going. I believe that God has
put me in this situation because I have a purpose. I am still here as an instrument of the
Lord to guide my children to the right path where they are meant to be. He sustains my
needs and He will never leave me.

 For some people, their religious or spiritual beliefs act as a source of comfort and strength
in dealing with life’s ups and downs; is it true for you?
-Yes. Ever since I was little, I have seen my mother’s strong belief in God. And
now that I am in the same position as hers, I can say that I have practiced what I saw
growing up. Believing in Him does not necessarily mean we won’t encounter difficulties
in life, it just means that He is always at our side to help us, guide us, and protect us
from all dangers. He lets us experience those hardships to give us lessons about the
reality of life.
O: Organized religion

 Do you consider yourself part of an organized religion?

-Yes.

 How important is this to you?

-I have found new peers who became my new family. We sometimes hold group
discussions and sharing of life experiences where we can learn something from. It
somehow gives encouragement to everybody that however hard life may be, we can
conquer them all if we put God in the center.

 What aspects of religion are helpful and not so helpful to you?

-Attending the Holy Mass is very helpful to me because I hear the words of God
and it seems like He is talking to me directly. So far, there are no negative impacts of
religion to me.

 Are you part of a religious or spiritual community? Does it help you? How?
-Yes. It helps me strengthen my relationship with the Lord and the community by
constantly communicating with them especially through prayers.

P: Personal spirituality/Practices

 Do you have personal spiritual beliefs that are independent of organized religion? What
are they?
-None. I think we, Roman Catholics, share the same spiritual beliefs.

 Do you believe in God? What kind of relationship do you have with God?
-Yes, I strongly believe in God. I put him in the center of my life so I can think
clearly and He can enlighten me with what’s right from wrong.

 What aspects of your spirituality or spiritual practices do you find most helpful to you
personally?
 -I believe that prayer is the most powerful weapon we all have. By sincerely
talking to Him even in silence, I know that He always hears us and never fails to answer
our pleads in so many ways.

E. Effects on medical care and end-of-life issues

 Has being sick affected your ability to do things that usually help you spiritually?
-No. In fact, having this terminal illness have made my relationship with God
stronger than ever. He has showed me His healing grace and I am very grateful for that.

 As a doctor, is there anything that I can do to help your access the resources that usually
help you?
-Given the numerous medications, I only hope that there can be more free
medicines available for us so that we can lessen the money spent for these
pharmaceutical drugs.

 Are you worried about any conflicts between your beliefs and your medical
situation/care/decisions?
-No.

 Would it be helpful for you to speak to a clinical chaplain/community spiritual leader?

-That would be great.

 Are there specific any specific practices or restrictions I should know about in providing
your medical care?
-I control my food intake especially with high cholesterol because I have a high
blood pressure and I cannot be exposed to sunlight.