The Least of These My Brethren: A Doctor's Story of Hope and Miracles in an Inner-City AIDS Ward (Paperback)

by Daniel J. Baxter M.D. (Author) "EVERY THREE months, with the change of seasons, a remarkable memorial service is held in the small chapel of St. Clare's Hospital, in New York..." (more)
Key Phrases: partial transsexual, pastoral care staff, pastoral care workers, Sister Pascal, Father Jack, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Doctor and author Daniel Baxter tells the true story of working in the 17-bed unit at the Spellman Center for HIV Related Diseases at New York City's St. Clare Hospital. More than just telling his own story though, Baxter introduces us to the untouchables--the AIDS victims of the late 20th century. We meet transvestite prostitutes, teenage crack addicts and penniless ex-prisoners: the invisible members of society who die in the roach-infested wards of an inner city hospital. This could be a morose, grim tale of human despair, but Baxter refuses to allow his ward or his book to succumb to such a sad fate. Instead, this story becomes a phoenix of spiritual hope and human compassion, which eloquently rises from the ashes of AIDS in the 1990s. --Gail Hudson

Review
Doctor and author Daniel Baxter tells the true story of working in the 17-bed unit at the Spellman Center for HIV Related Diseases at New York City's St. Clare Hospital. More than just telling his own story though, Baxter introduces us to the untouchables--the AIDS victims of the late 20th century. We meet transvestite prostitutes, teenage crack addicts and penniless ex-prisoners: the invisible members of society who die in the roach-infested wards of an inner city hospital. This could be a morose, grim tale of human despair, but Baxter refuses to allow his ward or his book to succumb to such a sad fate. Instead, this story becomes a phoenix of spiritual hope and human compassion, which eloquently rises from the ashes of AIDS in the 1990s. 
(Amazon.com Review - Gail Hudson )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Harvest Books (May 14, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156005883
• ISBN-13: 978-0156005883
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #602,448 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gospel of AIDS, October 8, 1998

By A Customer

For anyone who has struggled to understand the Beatitudes, this books provides a wonderful incarnation. The pages are filled with real people: smelly, surly, struggling and sensational. Don't miss the chance to live this experience as you turn each page. It's life-changing!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grace In Unexpected Places!, November 22, 1998

By	D.J. Maloney "James J. Maloney" (Saint Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews

Dr. Daniel Baxter's chronicle of his daily routine as a physician in an AIDS ward at Saint Clare's Hospital in New York City, one of the poorest broken down and inadequate facilities truly serving the "dregs of humanity" is one of the richest, most spiritual and compelling books I have read in recent years. I finished this book and have kept it in my mind in many weeks going over the truly profound truths and challenges Baxter presents in his own story. The Least of My Brethren is a multifaceted, complex chronicle that teaches far more than the most readers expect as they begin any new non-fiction book. I was captivated by The Least of My Brethren from the very start; awed by Baxter's ability to present an entire range of issues, at times separately and yet, all at once in other instances -- from the seemingly simple and unimportant issue of how to get a room cleaned up or a light bulb changed in a hospital with only the leanest of support services, and in the next breath, to be speaking quite articulately on issues such as AIDS, poverty, the tragedy and loneliness of human beings who have no one left in life who have not abandoned them, to the entire spectrum of human sexuality, to questions of philosophy of life and the meaning of death and back again to the more mundane insignificance of individuals, almost all terminally ill, breaking rules on smoking in hospitals and in public places. Baxter presents a story that is as much philosophy as it is medical science; as much sociology as it is gender studies, as much psychology as it is political science. As one individual reader, above everything else, Daniel Baxter's story was a moving, yet at times, an inadvertently hysterically funny portrait of how little the latest buildings and equipment really mean to medicine in comparison to the need for a much rarer and seemingly more easily attainable achievement, the enlistment of truly caring human beings. When Baxter speaks of caring people, he is not referring to those who show their care by donations to charity or participation in clothing drives for the poor -- but "down and dirty" caring in the midst of stink, the odor of death and the scarcity of hope! This, one can conclude in reading Baxter's chronicle, is a truly rare and precious giver of life -- not easily found. In some ways I was shocked that truly caring human beings are a preciously rare commodity, yet the more I thought about the issue, I was able to acknowledge how few people there are who are willing to transcend themselves and give to others unconditionally -- while at the same time having the courage to face the demon of hopeless straight in the eye and prevail with hope. What Baxter brought squarely home to me were many personal questions and issues I have need to address in my own life. Whether it was Baxter indirectly asking me how much I appreciate the life I have, for whatever time it is given to me, to his ability to bring me to the realization that I have only marginally and clinically considered my own mortality. Baxter keeps going with questions and challenges on the importance of doing meaningful work in our lives to challenging me to examine my own willingness to place myself in the midst of dirt and filth and to be unaffected by it because the other person, far more needy than I, needs my help in the midst of that personally discomforting squalor. Finally, Daniel Baxter offers -- not by preaching -- but by his own personal example, the very real and comprehensible answer as to why our human behavior is so often paradoxical: that in order to conquer our fear, in order to gain anything worthwhile, in order to truly transcend ourselves for the good of others, we must become fearless, courageous, spirit-filled and hopeful persons ourselves. And, how do we get to such a place? The answer so obvious that we all actually know it, kept very close to our human consciousness, but often within far enough a safety zone that we do not have to necessarily respond: that is, in order to become stronger and better persons, we must face down, touch and truly look, often for the very first time, at what we find ourselves most afraid. In so doing, we become stronger, more courageous and grace-filled persons. Indeed there seems to be truth to the adage that ³what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger;² for it is proven out in the daily lives of many committed persons like Daniel Baxter, Sister Pascal or the drag queens in ...Brethren, who come to minister their sick friend up by decorating his room and applying his make-up and dressing him in all his finery, in order to help him feel more hopeful and comfortable. I finished Baxter¹s book more fully understanding myself, my own strengths, fears and weaknesses and biases. In addition, I came away with new role models to help me to at least try to make some changes for myself and to better understand the meaning of truly caring for all with whom my path crosses in the course of this mysterious journey we call life.A singular and outstanding read which should deserves much attention!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very memorable and thought provoking book..., September 10, 1998

By A Customer

I read this book about 6 months ago and, even though i've read many books since, it has stayed with me. While the author goes into detail about what life is like in an AIDS ward, this book is suprisingly not depressing. Sad, yes..definitely..but it says alot about the human spirit. Each of the patients described is an individul...everyone special in their own way; not some faceless AIDS patient. The courage and kindness of the doctors and nurses (esp. Sister Pascal) really comes through and you really do feel for each of the patients (even the ones who are not very sympathetic). I will remember this book for a long time.