We don’t often acknowledge this idea, but opposites give one another meaning. They serve as reference points for one another, and we can only perceive one in the context of a life where the other exists. For example, the happy moments we experience can only be valuable to us once we know of sadness (and … Continue reading “Life and Death: Necessary Opposites”
School: Haverford
First Day
“I don’t think I’m ready for this,” I told myself while driving to Green Meadow nursing facility on my first day of volunteering with Holisticare. As my friends and I stepped into the facility and went through the routine of check-in and sanitization, I gathered all the courage to get ready to meet my first … Continue reading “First Day”
Colliding Worlds: A Connection 77 Years Apart
The story of my relationship with Agnes does not unravel as a movie plot with shocking turns, plentiful clichés and joyous moments of great splendor. It was not a difficult connection but one that did require work, as there were times when I was unsure of what to say or whether my time spent with … Continue reading “Colliding Worlds: A Connection 77 Years Apart”
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”
Intentionality and Awareness
Whenever I walk into Mary’s room, a blue notebook sits behind the armchair on the wall heater by the window. At the end of each visit, I pick up that notebook and describe the moments that I had with Mary for the past hour. I describe how Mary was feeling that day, whether she was … Continue reading “Intentionality and Awareness”
Training in the Beauty of Death
The first time I walked into Carol’s room, I had no idea what to expect, I was filled with nervous fear, not only of meeting someone new, but also of knowing that this person was close to the end of their life. How would I be able to build a connection with someone, knowing that … Continue reading “Training in the Beauty of Death”
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”
Seeing the Other Side of Palliative Care
Serving as a hospice volunteer this academic year has been a valuable experience in my development as a future healthcare provider. My experience in the program was atypical in many respects, but it raised my awareness of palliative care in ways that I could not have imagined. My experience was partly atypical because I began … Continue reading “Seeing the Other Side of Palliative Care”
Hard work: Building a Relationship with a Patient and a Relationship with Death
Throughout my volunteer experience, the relationship that I have created with my patient, who I will call Richard, has given me a new perspective on what it means to have a life and live one. Throughout this year, our relationship has grown. I’ve seen his guard come down, met his family members, laughed with him, … Continue reading “Hard work: Building a Relationship with a Patient and a Relationship with Death”
Ever-Changing Visits with Helen
For the past six months, I have been visiting Helen. I’ve gotten to know a few things about her life, but the woman herself has changed drastically in the time I have known her. Helen has late-stage dementia and doesn’t remember most of the things I know about her. For our first few visits, we … Continue reading “Ever-Changing Visits with Helen”