Bony fingers, labored breathing, and the sound of the steady drip of morphine. Holding my aunt’s hand as more time passed between each breath, I thought, “Why am I pursuing a profession surrounding death?” With each loss I suffered, I thought back to my two friends who each lost their mothers to breast cancer at … Continue reading “Hope in Death”
Category: Athena Hospice Program
this is for posts in the category of Athena Hospice
What Hospice Volunteering Taught Me
Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, my hospice group did not have the opportunities to visit very many patients. For example, I was only able to see two patients before our spring break. With that being said, I would most definitely have to say that my first hospice visit was actually the one that was … Continue reading “What Hospice Volunteering Taught Me”
Colliding Worlds: A Connection 77 Years Apart
The story of my relationship with Agnes does not unravel as a movie plot with shocking turns, plentiful clichés and joyous moments of great splendor. It was not a difficult connection but one that did require work, as there were times when I was unsure of what to say or whether my time spent with … Continue reading “Colliding Worlds: A Connection 77 Years Apart”
The Lessons of Hospice in a Time of Crisis
I wanted to share with you one of the most important experiences I had at hospice this year. I was visiting Sarah, who let me know that she anticipated this would be our last visit. I asked how she was feeling about that, and she told me that she felt it was going to be … Continue reading “The Lessons of Hospice in a Time of Crisis”
Music and Healing
Beth, Alice, and I walked into the community room of the memory ward. An ornamented tree stood in the corner and colorful lights adorned the ceiling. The residents were just finishing dinner; those self-reliant enough were feeding themselves at the dinner tables, while the more disabled residents were being spoon-fed from their beds. Judy, a … Continue reading “Music and Healing”
Crucial Elements to the Experience of a Good Death
Throughout my time with hospice, I have learned a lot about patient care as well as about death and dying. One of the most important things that I have learned is the concept of “a good death,” which is the most important thing to understand as a hospice volunteer as well as a patient-oriented physician. … Continue reading “Crucial Elements to the Experience of a Good Death”
How Hospice Volunteering Changed My Outlook on Medicine
Although my time was cut short as a hospice volunteer, it was an extremely meaningful experience for me overall. The initial training program taught me so much about ways to look at death and dying and how to help others cope with the pain and pressure that comes along with it. I now feel much … Continue reading “How Hospice Volunteering Changed My Outlook on Medicine”
More than a Stepping Stone
Since starting the program, I have not had all too many opportunities to visit Plush Mills Senior Living, and the visitations have been unfortunately cut short due to the ongoing pandemic. However, in the limited time that I was able to come spend at Plush Mills, I have cherished my time with Sue. A lovely … Continue reading “More than a Stepping Stone”
Reflecting on My Time With Ascend
One of my more meaningful hospice patient relationships was with a patient that we’ll call Mrs. Lee. I only got the chance to visit Mrs. Lee once, but it was a pleasant visit. Her room was clearly put together with love: there were photos of her and her husband, her family, and some accolades placed … Continue reading “Reflecting on My Time With Ascend”
We May Be Small, But We’ll Get There
When I first began volunteering with hospice, I had trouble communicating with patients. It went beyond not being able to understand what they were saying, or not knowing how to respond – I felt incredibly awkward, out of place, and unnatural at their bedside. I didn’t have the instinct some of my fellow volunteers had, … Continue reading “We May Be Small, But We’ll Get There”