Archbishop Discharged from Hospital
Wednesday 8th June 2011
Following a stay in hospital, the Archbishop of York has released this statement:
The Archbishop was discharged today from St Thomas’s Hospital in London. He was admitted in the early hours of Thursday morning 26th May with severe gastro-enteritis. Further examination two days later revealed a ‘nasty appendix’, and a successful operation was carried out to remove it in the early hours of Sunday 29 May. Sadly, there was a resulting infection from the toxins of the appendix, and the surgeon had no option but to open the wound so that it could be dressed daily.
Archbishop Sentamu expressed his gratitude for the skill and care of the surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors, nurses and all medical staff and chaplains of St Thomas’s hospital. He also wishes to thank those who visited him and anointed him with oil, as well as all who pray for him regularly, and who have supported him during this illness.
Unfortunately a number of the Archbishop’s engagements have had to be rearranged. However he hopes to review his diary early next week.
He has said that during the most trying times, the words of the Taize song, ‘Aber du weißt den Weg für mich’, adapted from a passage in Letters and Papers from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, (a German Pastor and Theologian executed by the Nazis in 1945), gave him great comfort:
“God, gather and turn my thoughts to you. With you there is light, you do not forget me. With you there is hope and patience. I don’t understand your ways, but you know the way for me.”
The Archbishop wishes you all joy in the Lord.