“ I believe with your love we can continue to stand strong to fight this virus and restore some hozho”
Dear BCA,
I am returning to the office on Monday May 11 to see patients in person. The two week quarantine time has helped me relax, replenish and begin to process my recent trip to the Navajo Nation. I am feeling well. Since I've returned, I received news that the Medicine Woman's mother has passed away from Covid. She was admitted to the hospital the day I arrived. The Medicine Woman wrote of her mother,
"Yaateeh abini. Awake and looked into the eastern sky it is so calm and peaceful. My mother told me years ago “ you were born in the sacred dawn horizon, small and early before your time” This morning I have mix feelings of sadness and some happiness but decided to concentrate on the gift of life. My mother was a master rug weaver, shepherd, traditional herbalist, diagnostician and a mother, maternal grandmother and paternal grandmother. She has left a legacy of powerful women who always walked the holy path of healing, delivering babies, skills in traditional herbs and practicing deep traditions and skills. I am forever grateful to my mother and father for creating me with the love of the holy ones and the Creator himself. May the road I accepted continue to shine light upon my path and move my heart to always feel love and compassion for the land, animals and people. Ashinaa shi ma, shi zheii shimasani, shi chei doo shi nali who walked the earth before me and whose songs and prayers I carry. I also appreciate the love of my people, aunts, cousins, sisters, grandchildren and relatives who supported me and my siblings with their caring hearts through my sickness, losing my mother and now. I believe with your love we can continue to stand strong to fight this virus and restore some hozho."
I feel honored in my small role in supporting this family through this difficult time. Honoring women, traditional ways of living, truth, healing, love, service, earth and all beings. Putting my efforts towards underserved communities feels crucial to the restoration and re-balancing of our connections to one another and the ecosystem. In this regard, I also felt honored and of service that my work was spotlighted in a KQED article on healthcare for underserved communities and the trust needed to establish that.
For Underserved Communities, Quality Healthcare is Built on Trust by Pendarvis Harshaw
Published on May 6 on KQED
click photo to view full article
The medicine woman wrote about restoring Hozho. The Navajo term, Hozho is a concept difficult to translate into the English language. It is an all encompassing word meaning goodness, beauty, the perfection of the natural order. To me, the restoration of Hozho is first about the recognition of its presence and working in all our lives and the bringing forth of that to displace the darkness. When we honor all that gives life: Women, Earth, Nature, Love, Truth we are restoring Hozho and honoring the undying Spirit of Love and Truth through our lives, through our work, through our relations. May the Medicine Woman's mother rest in peace and in power.
In Love & Community,
PS. If you can, please support the Medicine Woman's family through this difficult time by donating to funeral and other expenses. When the whole family falls sick on the reservation like this family did, support of any and all kinds are welcomed. There are lots of expenses and your help is greatly appreciated.