Beautiful writing Suleika. Lovely to read your voice again.
What an amazing program. I think it's important for people to read stories like these. These prisoners are all someone's child.
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Reading this article made me very sad as I recall both my wife's parents and mine receiving hospice care at the end of their lives. Those nurses, male and female were remarkable people. Words are really insufficient to explain what they accomplished day after day after day. These men are just as remarkable. Life is hard. Why can't we all just get along? Wonderful article and pictures.
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What is most crime except the dehumanization of other people. You take their money, life, possessions, or force yourself on them against their will. Anything that causes people to see another as a vulnerable human deserving of respect courtesy and generates empathy is not only a good thing, but should be the essence of qualifying for release back into society. Hopefully these care givers are learning this lesson. The golden rule applies everywhere and all the time.
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My mother died recently from cancer.
It was ferocious in its course, halting only temporarily by chemotherapy. No one thought she'd live past christmas but she did, and for that I thank hospice care. Her biggest fear was pain and dying alone. She experienced neither, calm professional care managed her pain and she did not die alone. As horendous as all of it was, I will always look upon those chain of events and take comfort in it.
These men should know how precious their work is in its tiniest details. Easing suffering has so many components. If the water temperature is JUST right, that's grace and respect in itself.
I hope, upon their eventual release, that they can be trained as orderlies or otherwise find work within the hospice.
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Me, too. Hodgkin's lymphoma. Twice.
Beyond the immediate connection both to the worker and to Suleika, whom I know through her series of articles in the Times chronicling her illness, I'm deeply moved by the personal transformations the workers experience in the course of working with the seriously ill and dying. Having responsibility for their care is real work, important work. It's dignity, which is in such short supply in the worlds these men came from and, of course, in prison. I've read about other innovative programs for prisoners that allow them to care for the vulnerable -- retired racehorses; abandoned or homeless cats and dogs that need to be readied for adoption -- with similar effect.
If we are serious about prison as a personally and socially rehabilitative institution and not just as punishment or, what's worse, revenge, there should be jobs waiting for these men if and when they are released. Aging societies are in desperate need of compassionate caregivers.
Congratulations to the photographer, whose sensitivity has allowed her to capture moments of tenderness, intimacy, and reflection.
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There is a similar program at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, and one of the hospice workers wrote a first-person essay about his experience there--it recently won second place in the 2018 PEN America prison writing contest in the essay section. All of the emotions and revelations these men describe are exactly what Sterling Cunio, the writer, has experienced. It's a shame that these men cannot be released back into the world. Many of us who have never been incarcerated for crimes could learn about compassion from people like those described in this article.
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Wonderful, moving piece, Suleika! It reminds me of the documentary "Serving Life" which our regional Hospice organization has been showing at each office. I look forward to reading your memoir. Your life has pushed up and forward against many obstacles, like the seed that survives the winter and shares its bloom with the world in Spring.
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Incredibly touching article about wonderful people who mug and murder. Nice try but no cigar. I've been mugged ten different times. Anyone who does something like that can never be forgiven.
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There is also a similar program at the California Men's Colony where inmates aid other inmates needing assistance with daily living activities, activities, etc. Only there the majority of those receiving aid are mentally ill. The "Gold Coats" on DQ provide a great service, and I would recommend the writer do a follow-up article regarding them (CMC also had/has inmates that provide hospice care).
Even in harsh environments a rose of compassion can bloom.
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A neighbor was in hospice and I experienced the gift of hospice to her, her family and friends. It is powerful. It is changing to all involved. To support and usher is comforting and humbling. This care ought not be rationed. I am grateful this care is available in this facility;use this as a model for care in others .
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I work in a hospice. Thank You, New York Times for profiling this California prison hospice. This is a powerful and gut wrenching article. Prisoners are not forgotten in dying and death. I'm grateful that there are prisoners who choose to be trained to provide end-of-life care to other inmates. There is such compassion, understanding and love in a place that is a cage; and those caged are forgotten and almost always deemed unworthy of attention and care.
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I too work in a California prison and am humbled every day by the compassion I am privileged to witness from prisoners who minister to the needs of others; one inmate recently confided that prior to his pending transfer to hospice care, his cell mate cared for him daily until his health deteriorated to the point he needed a higher level of care… I am grateful every day that I have the opportunity to work among prisoners who have suffered unspeakable trauma as children and are now discovering the restorative power of healing though caring for others… thank you for painting a powerful portrait of these remarkable men
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Thank you for this comment, too.
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Beautiful and profound.
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Exactly!
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A touching article and amazing photography.
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Powerful and touching. Too often we forget that redemption is within ourselves if we give ourselves a chance and these men who have become caretakers for the dying in prison are doing just that. As one caretaker stated, "death is the equalizer," and so often many humans forget that. We all die; how we live and care for others should be our legacy.
Thank you for NYTimes for an insightful article, one that renewed my hope of humanity.
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I have had the privilege to work at CMF as a psychologist and to experience this unit first hand. It is truly uplifting to have such a place in a prison. Chaplain Keith, as he is known, is a wonderful, warm, caring human being. He is one of those people I would like to clone and share with our other prisons in the state. The work the inmate workers perform each day enhances their lives and the lives of the men they care for. One thing not mentioned is the flexible visiting privileges for families of men in the hospice. Families can come and spend more hours than usually allowed when their loved one is in the hospice.
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This story is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. So well-written. So real. That the caregivers and patients opened up to Ms. Jaouad says a lot about her compassion and sensitivity. You can feel it in her writing. When I was an elementary school teacher, I dealt with a few little boys who acted out the pain and anger they felt due to their home situations. They needed more direction, attention, kindness and encouragement. And when they got it from a caring adult, even if it was just at school or in sports or somewhere else in the community, they bloomed. Their lives weren’t “fixed”, but they got to see themselves in a different light, a brighter light. And it often helped them find a different path in life. I really admire these men who never got that care as children, but are able to give AND receive it now in a place where you would never expect to find it.
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As an ex-prisoner myself, I found this article absolutely wonderful, sad and hopeful. I am crying as I write this. I am thinking about all the people I met in prison, many of them serving long sentences - nearly life (in the UK life sentences are rare, but long sentences can mean 'life' for many) - and I am reflecting on the experiences I had. As a philosopher with training in psychoanalysis I often provided an 'listening space' for other inmates. After being threatened because of my sexuality (I am gay) in the general population, I was moved to the 'vulnerable prisoners' wing.' Here, many prisoners were convicted or facing trial for sex offenses, including offenses against children. My cellmate, a 33 year old man from Hungary, had plead guilty to a serious offense against a child, and I found it hard at first. But, when you are in a cell with someone for hours on end, looking at the same walls, bars, etcetera, you have a relational that is beyond the crime. I began to talk to him, and we held informal 'sessions' lasting hours, whereby he talked about his guilt, remorse and his feelings. Word got around, and I began to hold 'clinics' - really just going into cells of people and talking to them at their request, offering a listening space. This caring for others helped me get through my first 60 days. After that I was moved to another prison, where I served as the prison librarian, and I had a chance to help others. I am white, and my biggest ally was a Black, Muslim man. Love
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Mr. Cochran,
I was deeply moved by your poignant and heart-rendering comment. Clearly deserving of a NYT Pick. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
You are an inspiration and role model for many.
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Thank you, Marge. I am deeply moved that there are people - yourself included - who are willing to challenge the stereotypes society has about prisoners. Since my time in prison, I have gone on to write a book that contains my philosophical background with my experiences inside. It's called 'Prison as Power: Being & State Contra Negativity & Notion,' and it is a call for a re-evaluation of the incarceration system. I also recommend Michel Foucault's 'Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison.'
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Thank you for your kind and thoughtful post Mr. Cochran. And thanks for the two book recommendations. I find most stories are more interesting and captivating when the author writes of first hand experiences. Looking forward to reading them.
The very best of luck to you and all of your future endeavors. Take care.
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The Vacaville CMF is an incredible facility with an amazing staff (primarily prisoners) and an enlightened chaplain who oversees the operation - Rev. Keith Knauf. I have been blessed to be a volunteer for the past couple years and can speak first-hand about the quality of care, the love, and the day-to-day support offered to those who are dying. Unless ones sees this hospice in action, it's hard to believe such a compassionate dynamic exists behind the high walls and barbed wire fences. What I've learned is that we are all people - forget the labels, the self-righteous assumptions, the external, false self. We - the prisoners, the staff, the volunteers - are all one body making our way through life. Thank you for writing this article.
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Thank you for this article. Well written, and a good reminder that every path is not a straight one.
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With an aging population, why can't these men be trained to be caregivers? People will be cared for. These men will have jobs after earning their freedom. It's a win win. It can help give prisoners something to live for. They can have a new life, a decent job, and play a much needed role in society.
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“I’m just returning something I didn’t get as a kid,” Murillo told me, rocking back and forth in his chair, punching his hands together. “All I wanted was kindness and to be held as a boy. Now I get to do that for somebody else. There’s also the regret of not being able to do that for my victims, for the people in my community who I hurt.”
While these two dozen "Pastoral Care Service Workers" are giving comfort, emotional support and assistance to the dying men under their care, they are enriching their own lives with a positive purpose, reflection of their prior hurtful deeds which influences them in becoming a better person.
I am incredibly touched by the attitudes of these inmates, but especially impressed by the paradigm shift of this California Medical Facility. Such a wonderful and drastic change of mindset which is helping inmates as they help terminally ill inmates. I sincerely hope this program can be repeated in other prison facilities throughout the country.
I see this as a win-win: "No prisoner here dies alone" and "caring for the dying teaches compassion and changes these men in profound ways."
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I heard a long time ago, as if it were gospel truth, as it sometimes is: Hurt people, hurt people.
Now I see it doesn’t have to be. If the hurting are given just the smallest chance, they can help people.
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Truly a healing story. Thank you.
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It sounds an awful lot to me like the reason most of these people were in prison in the first place was because they didn't receive compassionate, loving care as children and youth. What are we gaining by treating them like animals and locking them up all their lives? (Mostly) angry, bitter people who now, by design, cannot contribute to society; who cannot get the help they needed in the first place; and all the while we are throwing heaps of public money into the black hole of "correctional" costs. Sounds to me like if we treated them like people and not prisoners, we might spend less money, give them a chance for redemption, and build a better society. Didn't they already do that in Scandinavia? Perhaps we should look into that...
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Spectacular piece. Very much moved by Suleika Jaouad's writings, as I have been since following her earliest contributions to the NYT's on her own experience of having cancer. Thanks to her for this portrait in compassion. I wish our society could work towards the spirit of the article in abolishing this nation's prison industrial complex, and extending real care to young children, and boys especially, in marginalized and vulnerable communities. We must all do better at extending care.
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Great piece. Fantastic as it is, though, it cannot compete with the accompanying photographs. Absolutely blown away as I saw them, and couldn't help scrolling down, ahead of the text, to see the next one. Truly Pulitzer material.
Packages like this is why I subscribe to NYT.
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I wholeheartedly agree, Pulitzer material.
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What a beautifully moving piece. When will we, as a society, develop compassion for the less fortunate; and really give them the acceptance, empathy, encouragement, and services THEY need to discourage so many impoverished young people from going wayward in the first place?
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These men are amazing. I would trust any one of them to care for my relatives in a normal hospital setting.
Surely there must be some way to arrange for a second chance for people who offended at very young ages, yet have given so much back.
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I have always been moved when prisons allowed inmates to care for animals, albeit dogs, cats, etc. because the affection, compassion and love these inmates shared and bestowed benefited both the animal and the inmate.
The fact that inmates are now allowed to provide and share compassion, care and companionship to fellow inmates who are terminally ill deepens and enriches their empathy and opens their heart and soul to more love and appreciation to their fellow man.
"Murillo got down on one knee on the linoleum floor so that he was at eye level with the patient. He put tan socks on Figueroa’s feet, which dangled off the side of the bed, and gave them a squeeze. “We’re here for you — anything you need." This paragraph brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing this story with the world - it is as beautiful and inspiring as it is heartbreaking.
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I wonder - I hope - that some day we will find a way to make rehabilitation and redemption a reality for the hundred of thousands of people in prison.
Not everyone can be rehabilitated or redeemed, but clearly, given the chance, some can.
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Wonderfully touching article.
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What a thoughtful, beautiful piece -- the words, stories and photography work so well together. It all brought me to tears, made me feel hope, reminded me that our mortality is part of our humanity, as the article indicates, the great equalizer.
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