As an aspiring physician, I have spent years learning about the intricate physiological processes that make our bodies function and the ways in which these processes can fail. I have been tested on the scientific aspects of medicine countless times already in my college years and will continue to be tested on them throughout my … Continue reading “Peace and Understanding”
Category: Athena Hospice Program
this is for posts in the category of Athena Hospice
When Two Artists Met
With a peaceful voice and a smile on her face, she looked at me and said, “go ahead and be a doctor.” That day turned out to be my last session with my patient, whom I will call Jane for the sake of privacy, before she passed away.. That day, she was pale and her … Continue reading “When Two Artists Met”
Companionship at All Stages of Life
Throughout the past few months as a hospice volunteer, the most important lesson illustrated to me is the essential nature of companionship at all stages of life. As a young person and college student with a strong family network, it can be easy to take for granted the consistency opportunities for conversation. Unfortunately in the … Continue reading “Companionship at All Stages of Life”
A Thank You Note
When I first met Marianne, I was taken aback. I wondered, had I met this woman before? She was certainly talking to me as if I had. I wondered if she’d mistaken me for someone else she’d met—perhaps a few days ago, but maybe a few months, or even a few decades. But as she … Continue reading “A Thank You Note”
What I Learned While Volunteering with Hospice
I started volunteering with hospice in the fall of 2019 because I wanted to give back after my grandmother was cared for by amazon hospice nurses before passing away in December 2018. I thought that this would be an experience to express gratitude and hopefully make a difference in my patients’ lives. I did not, … Continue reading “What I Learned While Volunteering with Hospice”
Maximizing the Moment
During my experience with hospice, I learned a lot about myself and the way I view death. I only had one patient, whom I felt I got to know well, and I was thankful for the chance to interact with him. I talked with my patient about his past and learned he had many hobbies … Continue reading “Maximizing the Moment”
Seeing the Beauty in Death
Atul Gawande claims that the first fear of being a doctor stems from believing you should always be able to fix a problem when it is presented to you. Gawande said that most physicians are anxious because they feel the pressure to consistently appear competent, and if something goes wrong, they view it as a … Continue reading “Seeing the Beauty in Death”
Embracing Ephemerality
Before I started this program, I hadn’t given much thought to what the end of life is like. I didn’t like to think about death, and frankly, it’s because it scared me. In our culture, death is seen as the shutting of a door, an end to all things that we hold dearest, and something … Continue reading “Embracing Ephemerality”
More to Medicine
Before I became an Ascend Hospice volunteer, I read the book Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. In the book, Dr. Gawande discusses how technological advances in medicine have completely changed the way we think about dying and well, the way we die. I was particularly moved by Dr. Gawande’s mention of the worsening of health … Continue reading “More to Medicine”
More Than A Patient
It feels just like yesterday that I visited my first hospice patient in the hospital. I can attest that it was one of the most nerve wracking experiences I had undergone. I felt like there were certain things that I had to say, and I had to say them at the right times in order … Continue reading “More Than A Patient”