Through the Athena Hospice Volunteer Program, I was fortunate to spend meaningful time with two patients.
The first was a patient suffering from cardiac and neurological complications, who shared inspirational experiences with me. She expressed how, in her early life, she pursued higher education and became the first occupational therapist at her hospital. After settling in PA and completely renovating a farmhome there, she continued OT work, became heavily involved in fundraising for her local hospital, and served her church. Beyond that, she turned her hobby of dollhouse making into a self-owned small business. Dollhouses are scattered throughout her current apartment, and she explained it wasn’t a money-making endeavor but rather “labor of love.” Her life taught me that passion drives purpose. Untraditional achievement can take creative forms, and her choice to continue growing even after achieving her OT career exemplifies courage and initiative that I wish to emulate. Her story teaches that success is deeply personal, and formed my goal to learn about the life story of every patient I interact with to better understand them and their needs. It has shown me to approach patient interactions with an inquisitive mindset, as well as the importance of being a good listener, which positively impacts both oneself and the patient.
My second hospice experience was with a patient suffering from dementia, and vision and hearing loss. Some of the most meaningful moments spent with her have been moments in silence. This patient valued my company, as long conversations could sometimes feel daunting to her, but just sitting at the end of her bed and holding her hand to remind her that she was not alone were extremely effective. Sometimes her friends and family members would visit, and it is easy to tell she is well-loved. Her room is covered with pictures of her family members – several generations of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – showing me that patients mean the world to their loved ones, and you should treat them with compassion to honor that and give them a positive end-of-life experience.
After working closely with patients, I’ve further uncovered the importance of context in clinical care. I have learned that every patient has a unique story and a complex cultural, personal, and emotional background – their diagnosis doesn’t solely define them. Hospice volunteerism has taught me that one’s medical state can affect both the physical body and inner identity, so it is important to treat patients with compassion, care, and empathy. Listening to patients’ life stories has shifted my self-view by making me more aware of just how precious life is. I’ve also learned that I, originally a stranger to my patients, have the potential to quickly become like a close friend and shoulder to lean on for them in vulnerable moments.
Working in hospice volunteerism has reinforced my vocation of pursuing an M.D. However, it has introduced me to complications surrounding society’s perception of death, which seeps into the cracks of the medical field. As we learned at the beginning of volunteer training in Being Mortal, the two “unfixables” are aging and dying. Yet, the fact that they are inevitable does not change the stigma surrounding them in society. People are fundamentally unequipped to accept and understand death – this is no different for doctors. It is difficult for doctors to have end-of-life conversations with patients, but working with hospice patients has made me vow to my future physician self that I will always be transparent, because patients deserve to know the truth so that they can make informed treatment decisions.