Hospice reflections

When I initially joined this program, I was not entirely sure what to expect. I understood that hospice programs were to medically assist people as they face the end of their life. However, I quickly realized through my volunteering that hospice, and dying in of itself, is much more than overcoming medical challenges. It is … Continue reading “Providing a Good Death”

One patient that stands out to me was a lady who had been in hospice for about a month. When I entered her room, she seemed to be asleep. I quietly introduced myself and saw that she briefly opened her eyes and then went back to sleep. I pulled up a chair and sat a … Continue reading “What I Learned from Hospice Volunteering”

When reflecting on my time as a hospice volunteer, it’s impossible not to think of the time that I spend with my first patient, “R.” I first met R in September of 2023. Initially, after I was told that her diagnosis was Alzheimer’s Disease, I was nervous to begin meeting with her. I had never … Continue reading “Growth Through Experience”

To put this experience into words proves difficult, simply because I’ve learned a lifetime of experience in just a few months. I think the best way to do so would be to explain who my first patient was, and how she transformed my perspective of the world of medicine. “Caroline” and I had a very … Continue reading “How I Learned a Lifetime in 8 Months”

I had the pleasure of two different patients and they were quite different. My first patient whom I spent my first semester with was sweet, but I did have a difficult time having conversations with her. She has dementia which leads to our conversations being relatively short and it being difficult for her to maintain … Continue reading “A Year in Memory”

Being a volunteer in the Athena Hospice program has been a transformative experience for me in my life. It has undoubtedly shaped my aspirations, furthering my desire to pursue a career in medicine. In the realm of healthcare, it is the human connection that truly defines the practice of medicine. Each interaction with a patient … Continue reading “Hospice Care: A Transformative Experience”

The Power and Joy of Connections As an Athena hospice volunteer, I have recently visited a few patients. Each has left me with beautiful memories I will never forget. However, due to their conditions or disposition, the process brought many obstacles and hurdles to each. My first patient was unresponsive primarily for the first couple … Continue reading “The Joy of Conversation”

I see healthcare as a human right so volunteering at Hospice was my way of investing into the Baltimore community. In my medical career, I want to work with at risk and often neglected populations. The first resident I formed a unique connection with was Fernando: he liked smoking, sugar and baseball. He was from … Continue reading “coffee and carrying on”

At twenty-years-old the AHN Hospice Program gave me my first medical volunteering position, but I was ten-years-old when I had my first experience with end-of-life care. Then, everything under the umbrella of healthcare fell under two categories: wounds bandages, ice cubes, and my parents’ kisses could fix, and “the hospital.” Nasal cannulas and IV wires … Continue reading “Dying: A Ten-Year Reflection”

Unfortunately, I was not assigned a patient throughout my time as a volunteer at Athena Institute Hospice. Consequently, I can not write about any Hospice related patient interactions. Nonetheless, I am able to reflect on some meaningful information that I learned over the course of the program. For instance, learning about hospice care through the … Continue reading “My Experience Volunteering for Hospice”