School: Princeton

I followed the Project Leader down the brightly lit hallways of the nursing home, beaming what I hoped was a warm smile at those we passed and anxiously gripping the lanyard hanging around my neck. It wasn’t my first time at a nursing home—I had spent two years volunteering in one during my high school … Continue reading “Finding Life in Dying Times”

Reflecting on my experiences as a volunteer with Ascend Hospice, I am moved by a vast range of emotions and sentiments: namely, grief for the patients I can no longer visit, gratitude for the stories I have had the privilege of unearthing, and compassion for the patients and families facing difficult decisions and experiences in … Continue reading “The End-of-Life Journey as a Companion”

I wanted to share with you one of the most important experiences I had at hospice this year. I was visiting Sarah, who let me know that she anticipated this would be our last visit. I asked how she was feeling about that, and she told me that she felt it was going to be … Continue reading “The Lessons of Hospice in a Time of Crisis”

Beth, Alice, and I walked into the community room of the memory ward. An ornamented tree stood in the corner and colorful lights adorned the ceiling. The residents were just finishing dinner; those self-reliant enough were feeding themselves at the dinner tables, while the more disabled residents were being spoon-fed from their beds. Judy, a … Continue reading “Music and Healing”

Throughout my time with hospice, I have learned a lot about patient care as well as about death and dying. One of the most important things that I have learned is the concept of “a good death,” which is the most important thing to understand as a hospice volunteer as well as a patient-oriented physician. … Continue reading “Crucial Elements to the Experience of a Good Death”

One of my more meaningful hospice patient relationships was with a patient that we’ll call Mrs. Lee. I only got the chance to visit Mrs. Lee once, but it was a pleasant visit. Her room was clearly put together with love: there were photos of her and her husband, her family, and some accolades placed … Continue reading “Reflecting on My Time With Ascend”

When I first began volunteering with hospice, I had trouble communicating with patients. It went beyond not being able to understand what they were saying, or not knowing how to respond – I felt incredibly awkward, out of place, and unnatural at their bedside. I didn’t have the instinct some of my fellow volunteers had, … Continue reading “We May Be Small, But We’ll Get There”

Through the guidance of the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program and with the support of this community, I have developed the foundation for a relationship with death, to hone and build upon in future years. I say ‘relationship’ because I see this phenomenon as a dynamic thing to interact with, rather than something intangible … Continue reading “Building a Relationship with Death”

The same beaming smile greeted me at the doorway of Room 405 every time I came to visit. Ceremonious exchanges of Honey Nut Cheerios I had bought from Wegmans’ and oatmeal raisin cookies she had received from her son marked the arrival of a new episode of our much-awaited soap opera. Commercial breaks signaled times … Continue reading “Rethinking Death”

When I first met Marianne, I was taken aback. I wondered, had I met this woman before? She was certainly talking to me as if I had. I wondered if she’d mistaken me for someone else she’d met—perhaps a few days ago, but maybe a few months, or even a few decades. But as she … Continue reading “A Thank You Note”