I did not understand what death was until I decided to become a hospice volunteer. I had relatives in the past who had passed away when I was at a young age but never understood what they actually went through, until now. My pop-pop had a seizure when I was in elementary school and one day he was laughing and talking to me and the next he was bedridden and couldn’t speak much of anything. He knew he was dying and that his quality of life would never be the same. At the time I didn’t fully understand what was going on, until years later when I became an Athena Hospice volunteer. The program has allowed me to reflect on my past experiences as well as my present ones.
Today, I am currently a hospice volunteer with a lovely woman named “Helga“. “Helga” was at first very reluctant to have a volunteer because she had been so independent her whole life. She was a world traveler and has told me of all her amazing experiences, such as visiting various countries and camping. However, when she was diagnosed with a terminal illness all the adventures she had planned, such as to wing-suit flying through the Grand Canyon and visiting her favorite country abroad, were all put to a stop. What she knew to be her life was not her life anymore. She had to adjust and prepare for her end of life.
Preparing for the end of life involves making sure everything is in order for when you need to leave. Through the Athena Hospice Program I have been able to understand what goes into preparing for the end of life. I have had the opportunity to discuss with peers as well as our group facilitator about what it means to die. Being able to have open discussions about what I am experiencing as a volunteer has allowed me to feel as if I am not alone. Being a hospice volunteer puts a lot on you mentally and emotionally, but being able to practice self-care and talk with others has made the process go smoothly. When I am helping “Helga” organize her belongings and listening to her stories of the past I am helping her heal in a way that doesn’t involve medications or doctors. I am giving her peace of mind that she doesn’t need to worry about organizing her things because I am there to help her. I am giving her peace of mind by listening to her stories so she can feel as if they will never be lost. I am giving her peace of mind by letting her beat me in a couple rounds of Scrabble, just for fun.
“Helga” has shown me that when life throws unexpected obstacles in your way you just need to go around them and keep going. This experience has aided in my decision to become a future physician. To become a doctor is about saving lives but also about understanding that not all lives can be saved in certain situations. This program will be something I take with me on my future endeavors and I recommend this program to anyone that is thinking about having a future career in medicine.