Secret Spot 7 Summits Blog: Prayer Stone Dedication at North Hawaii Community Hospital

Prayer Stone Dedication at North Hawaii Community Hospital

(This dispatch is available with plugins at: http://blog.secretspoteverest.com/2011/11/09/prayer-stone-dedication-at-north-hawaii-community-hospital.aspx)

This past weekend saw the fulfillment of one of Phill's unfinished commitments in this world. I traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii to meet with Dr. Earl Bakken (founder of Medtronic, Inc. and inventor of the pacemaker!) and present him with the Buddhist Prayer Stone that Phill wished to donate to Dr. Bakken and the North Hawaii Community Hospital he helped build.

It was one of Phill's many dreams to meet Earl Bakken...a dream that was realized a little more than a year ago...

"I looked into his sentient eyes...and the wisdom and experience of 80some years were imparted upon me. My tears of Joy have been well spent.
To be in the presence of a true visionary who exudes altruism is an overpowering experience that I would wish on...EVERYONE!"
-Phill Michael - July 19, 2010-

....I wouldn't do it justice to describe the experience in any other way!

Prayer Stone dedication ceremony in the chapel at North Hawaii Community Hospital

Chris Stanko presents the Buddhist Prayer Stone to Earl Bakken on behalf of Phill Michael

Phill always felt that he owed his extended lease on life after his heart surgery to not only his surgeon and the Medtronic Freestyle Heart Valve in his chest...but also to the visionary founder and driving force of Medtronic, Dr. Earl Bakken.

One of Dr. Bakken's MANY humanitarian and community improvement projects is the North Hawaii Community Hospital. This hospital is unlike any other in its philosophy of 'Blended Medicine'...the best of 'high tech, and high touch' in an amazing healing environment. The locals refer to it as 'Lokahi'...the balance of body, mind, spirit, nature, and the community.

The North Hawaii Community Hospital

NHCH resides in the shadow of Mauna Kea on the Big Island and was built on an ancient gathering site where native tribes would meet in peace to draw upon the natural healing energy of the land. It is believed that the spiritual healing energies of the 'Five Mountains' (Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kohala, Kilauea, and Hualalai) come together and are focused in this place.

A peaceful garden area...patient rooms actually open up to the beautiful outdoor surroundings as part of the overall 'healing environment'

Upon entering the lobby of NHCH, you would never believe that you're in a hospital!

The focus of the North Hawaii Community Hospital is on cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention programs. They have a wide range of community screening programs with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment in an effort to make the Island of Hawaii the healthiest cardiovascular community on Earth. NHCH has partnered with other prominent hospitals and medical institutes including the Cleavland Clinic Heart and Brain Institute in Ohio, to offer a wide range of additional resources, second opinions, and educational collaboration.

Thanks to Kerry, Julia, and Krista of the NHCH administrative staff for putting this ceremony together!

The philosophies of the North Hawaii Community Hospital blended quite well with Phill's drive to push the limits of science and medicine while focusing on the cultural and spiritual aspects of the community.

A Beautiful Koa Wood Bible outside of the chapel at NHCH...the Prayer Stone will reside directly across from this bible in a similar custom built Koa Wood display!

A rare, early morning shot of the observatories on the summit of Mauna Kea...usually obscured by clouds during the day.

In thanks and respect to Earl Bakken for all that he has achieved and all that he has inspired in others, Phill could think of no better place for the powerful healing energy of the Buddhist Prayer Stone to reside than in 'The Most Healing Hospital in the World!'