Brenda was dying, and she knew it. Her eyes were sad, and she only spoke in sighs and repeated the phrase “don’t worry about it.” She wasn’t despondent, but willing to smile and cheer up. Despite being admitted into a hospice for Parkinson’s, Brenda retained her individuality and creativity through the puzzles and toys, but … Continue reading “My Existential Quest”
A Hundred More Questions about Living
Greg and I had been laughing and swapping college stories for the better part of an hour when the window’s shifting sunlight caught his eye. He then looked over to that side of the room, where just a few weeks earlier, his wife used to lay in her cot. He was silent for a moment, … Continue reading “A Hundred More Questions about Living”
One Year Older
In the beginning of my hospice volunteer experience, my sole aim was to develop connections with patients. As my time as a volunteer concludes, I realized that I never want to stop doing just that—giving all of myself to the patients I care for. My very first patient was an older woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. … Continue reading “One Year Older”
Hospice Love
Every patient that I have met so far has been amazingly sweet to me, though one patient was particularly memorable. I hadn’t met actually met her in person, but instead made a phone call because I was sick that week. She appreciated our simple, five minute conversation so much that she asked for my name … Continue reading “Hospice Love”
Kim
When I attended the information session on becoming a hospice volunteer, I was unsure if this type of work would be right for me. I wasn’t even confident I knew what hospice meant. However, after consideration, I took a leap of faith and went through the onboarding process. A few months later, I finally saw … Continue reading “Kim”
The Value of Healing
Hospice volunteering has no doubt shaped my future aspirations as a physician. I have experienced first-hand the value of emotional care at the end of life. We will not be able to physically cure every patient, but we can always provide them with comfort and support. During my volunteer experience, one of the biggest challenges … Continue reading “The Value of Healing”
Being Present
When I first saw Sue, she was wrapped up in a purple blanket, sitting in a wheelchair in front of the television. On the screen, dancers glided across a stage. I approached Sue cautiously, not wanting to disturb her. She looked so peaceful sitting there. Cozy, even. I patted her on the shoulder. “Hi Sue,” … Continue reading “Being Present”
Family In Need of Care
When I heard about this volunteer position, I was excited at the prospect of finally getting patient care volunteer hours, since that’s an important aspect of my future application to medical school. I applied hoping to get those requirements, help some hospice patients, and learn something along the way, but I was not prepared for … Continue reading “Family In Need of Care”
My Journey Through the Pitt Hospice Volunteering Program
On my first day volunteering with the Pitt Hospice program, I wasn’t expecting to be staring blankly at white walls as my “Hello!” echoed back to me. I was in the room with Ben, my first dementia patient, and within 30 minutes of awkward, fragmented conversation, my romanticized expectations and hopes for immediate connection and … Continue reading “My Journey Through the Pitt Hospice Volunteering Program”
The Importance of Fleeting Moments and Patient Interaction
When I was nearing the end of middle school, my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. At first, I did not really comprehend what that meant. I knew symptoms of the disease and had heard of it before, but I did not foresee how it would affect me and my family. Watching my grandfather’s condition … Continue reading “The Importance of Fleeting Moments and Patient Interaction”