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”
Making Music and Becoming Human
My time in the Memory Unit of my local hospice was absolutely transformational. I was fortunate enough to volunteer with two musicians, so we formed a musical trio and performed for some of the patients. It was astounding to see music’s power in these moments. Unfortunately, these people were losing or had lost many of … Continue reading “Making Music and Becoming Human”
Minimizing Loneliness
With all that has been going on in the world with coronavirus, I have had a lot of time to think about what makes life so meaningful. I have come to the conclusion that one of the most important things in my life is human interaction. The past few weeks, despite feeling like I am … Continue reading “Minimizing Loneliness”
A Celebration of Life
There comes a time when everyone must reflect on their past. Whether it be in the face of a challenge or at the end of life, we can find ourselves dwelling on our failures or reliving joyous moments. Fortunately, many of us are able to extract meaning and impactful lessons from our past, and this … Continue reading “A Celebration of Life”
Grapling with Death: The Bigger Picture
The pre-med hospice volunteer program has reduced and reshaped my fear of death. Coming into the program, I knew that my fear of death was irrational since it is inevitable. I was scared nonetheless because it is unknown. My religion, Christianity, does offer some comfort (as most religions do) but it does not completely eliminate … Continue reading “Grapling with Death: The Bigger Picture”