Through the guidance of the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program and with the support of this community, I have developed the foundation for a relationship with death, to hone and build upon in future years. I say ‘relationship’ because I see this phenomenon as a dynamic thing to interact with, rather than something intangible … Continue reading “Building a Relationship with Death”
My Time With Hospice
Unlike other volunteer opportunities, the pre-med hospice program through Ascend Hospice and the Athena Institute provided me the opportunity to develop my interpersonal skills on a deeper level. Throughout this program, I was given the opportunity to develop a relationship with my patient beyond surface-level engagement. I did not get to spend as much time … Continue reading “My Time With Hospice”
Hospice: A Program With An Impact for All
Participation in the hospice program has completely changed my perspective on life. A life fully lived is one to celebrate, but the ending of a life is often painful. I will forever cherish being a part of my hospice patient’s life at such a critical point. Around two years ago, my own mother was in … Continue reading “Hospice: A Program With An Impact for All”
The Missing Piece of Healthcare
I chose to volunteer with hospice after having lost three of my grandparents, who all benefitted from end-of-life care from various hospice programs. Each of their situations were extremely different in terms of the kind of care they needed, considering that their conditions included congenital heart disease, Parkinson’s, and ALS. I felt that I had … Continue reading “The Missing Piece of Healthcare”
The Inevitability of Death and the Beauty of Life
Through my training and firsthand experience as a hospice volunteer, I have a newfound perspective on life, death, and what patients really need in their last moments. There are many aspects of end-of-life care that I have learned about, but none resonate with me more than the idea of understanding death as inevitable and necessary … Continue reading “The Inevitability of Death and the Beauty of Life”
Embracing Death
The time that I have spent volunteering with this program has changed my perspective on both life and death in so many ways. From the conversations I’ve had with my peers at our reflection meetings to the time I spent visiting my patients, I have learned so much about how the people around me view … Continue reading “Embracing Death”
Reminiscing on My Time With Lela
For the past few months, my partner Gavin and I spent our Sunday mornings visiting our hospice patient, Lela. She lived at home under the care of her husband. They lived in a quiet, homey neighborhood located a little over twenty minutes from campus. I vividly remember our first visit. It was early January and … Continue reading “Reminiscing on My Time With Lela”
Rethinking Death
The same beaming smile greeted me at the doorway of Room 405 every time I came to visit. Ceremonious exchanges of Honey Nut Cheerios I had bought from Wegmans’ and oatmeal raisin cookies she had received from her son marked the arrival of a new episode of our much-awaited soap opera. Commercial breaks signaled times … Continue reading “Rethinking Death”
Sometimes You Just Need to Color
In my experience as a volunteer for the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program, I have learned valuable vocational skills that will be useful in my future career. Most importantly, I have learned how important it is for someone to have personal agency during their dying process. At the beginning of this program, my fear … Continue reading “Sometimes You Just Need to Color”
The Content Mother
I wasn’t entirely sure how much I would or would not enjoy volunteering for hospice prior to doing so this academic year. I expected to gain new experiences connecting with older patients nearing the end of life, bed-side manners, and overall ways of managing topics surrounding death. I was pleasantly surprised that there was actually … Continue reading “The Content Mother”