Tom Swann is expected to complete chaplain’s assistant training at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage on Friday afternoon October 17, 20014. Swann is the first legally-blind person to become a volunteer at the hospital. There are almost 800 volunteers currently working at the hospital.
The hospital is named after late President Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower was playing golf with three other men at Thunderbird Country Club in 1961. One of Eisenhower’s golf buddies fell ill. He was pronounced dead by the time the ambulance arrived at Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs. From that tragic incident the desire to build a new hospital located at the mid-point of the western Coachella Valley was envisioned.
In his role as a chaplain’s assistant Swann will meet with sick patients and make a spiritual assessment of their needs. He will offer to pray with the patients. He will become a witness to their suffering. Swann will give Holy Communion to Catholics. Swann has been a veteran’s chaplain since 2006.
Swann has two more “hurdles” to jump over before he can start working. Father Howard Lincoln of Sacred Heart Church wanted to ensure that Swann who is HIV-positive cannot transmit his illness to other people. Swann will place the consecrated host representing the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ directly into the mouth of patients. Additionally Swann will receive Eucharist Minister training from the Catholic Diocese. HIV cannot be transmitted by casual contact. Swann feels that twenty years ago he would not have been able to become a chaplain’s assistant because people were more afraid of AIDS.
Swann is also a famous gay person. This week the Catholic Bishops issued a document that says for the first time that homosexuals have gifts they can offer the church. Swann feels he is the first LGBT Chaplain’s Assistant at the hospital.