School: Princeton

Before I became an Ascend Hospice volunteer, I read the book Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. In the book, Dr. Gawande discusses how technological advances in medicine have completely changed the way we think about dying and well, the way we die. I was particularly moved by Dr. Gawande’s mention of the worsening of health … Continue reading “More to Medicine”

My time in the Memory Unit of my local hospice was absolutely transformational. I was fortunate enough to volunteer with two musicians, so we formed a musical trio and performed for some of the patients. It was astounding to see music’s power in these moments. Unfortunately, these people were losing or had lost many of … Continue reading “Making Music and Becoming Human”

A visiting speaker once advised me to find a purpose in life, then figure out how to get there, rather than choose a career then figure out what to do with it. He happened to be a doctor who gave up practice to found a global health charity, but he says he began with the … Continue reading “Learning the Difference between Constructive and Productive”

My volunteer partner and I were finishing up our check-ins for our visit and were on our way to visit our last patient for that day, Martha. Visits with Martha in the past had been genial but otherwise largely uneventful. She loved to discuss relationships, both ours and hers. Alert, responsive, hilarious, and always appreciative … Continue reading “The Tea That Never Was”

For most of my life, I have believed in the power of words—that if the right words were said in the right order at the right time, they could fix any problem that I encountered. Being a shy person by nature, whenever it was my turn to speak in a conversation, I would stammer and … Continue reading “At A Loss For Words”

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”

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”

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”

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”

Martha is a vibrant, witty woman. She seems a bit nervous sometimes, but she loves to chat. She is always in a common area, sassing the staff or trying to talk to other patients. When we talk to her, she jokes about her messy hair, and then she reaches up, cracks her endearing sideways smile, … Continue reading “What I Know of Life, I Learned from Death”