School: Bryn Mawr

This past school year, I had the opportunity to temporarily join “Julia” as she navigates declining health and increasing separation from the kind of life she formerly led. I came to know “Julia” as a reserved, soft-spoken, mellow individual, surrounded by a loving family. Upon arriving at her room for our weekly visits, a cup … Continue reading “Reflections on my hospice experience: A call for healthcare that is more human”

I got assigned to “Patient X” in October of 2022. I feel extremely lucky to have gotten to meet, talk to and develop a relationship with “Patient X”. One hobby that both of us have in common is the joy of reading. Every time I visit him, I will either talk with him about books … Continue reading “A Patient’s Top Support System: The Importance of Hospice Volunteering”

Thanks to the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program, I have been able to foster a nourishing and supportive relationship with my hospice patient. My patient is nonverbal, therefore, I bond with them through physical touch, engaging in behavior, such as holding their hand, brushing their hair, or changing them into a clean shirt after … Continue reading “Creating Connections and Accepting Death as a Hospice Volunteer”

The world is a marble heart and everyone has a small piece within. The heart is fragile, broken, and disgustingly beautiful. When I started to volunteer, my knowledge grew to a different level than I have ever seen before. Growing up, I was taught that death was a way to celebrate our loved ones by … Continue reading “The Lasting Impact of a Hospice Patient: Through the Gift of Learning”

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”

We live our lives dreading the topic of death, lest we provoke the Grim Reaper, Azrael, Yama, or whatever names we choose to personify death with. We understand that our time on earth is fleeting, and we are uncertain of when we will be unable to make the morning rush. I joined the hospice program … Continue reading “Goodbyes”

I have been fortunate enough to see the same hospice patient for my entire time in this program. Vivian is a sweet woman that loves to talk, although her vascular dementia means that her conversations are often confusing to follow and she never remembers exactly who I am. Still, her face always lights up with … Continue reading “Reflections on a Year of Growth”

I spent most of my time throughout the hospice volunteer program with my patient Johanna and her husband Jonathan, whom she lived with in an apartment in a facility. Early on in my visits with her, Johanna always greeted me with a smile and hug and usually complimented my appearance. She was very quick-witted, often making jokes … Continue reading “My Time with Hospice”

Every Sunday I would wake up looking forward to meeting Dora, thinking about how my visit would bring a bit of happiness to her life and someone to talk to and share experiences with. I noticed that regardless of how refined an assisted living facility may be, it is difficult for patients to have company given … Continue reading “The Final Days”

Perhaps the most meaningful relationship I have had with a hospice patient was with a woman who I will call Rebecca, a name I have borrowed from a wooden sculpture she created. From the first day I met her, I could tell that Rebecca was a free-spirit. For most of her life, she created beautiful pieces … Continue reading “Rebecca’s Sculptor”