School: Swarthmore

Through my experiences with Athena, my impression of the purpose of hospice care transformed. I had seen it before as a place to just maintain bodies until their death, a place to abandon and forget the elderly. However, I have come to see these institutions as a place to ease patients through an uncomfortable process … Continue reading “Hearing and Acknowledging Lifelong Pain to Provide Comfort and Dignity”

As a pre-med hospice volunteer I have had the opportunity to gain an experience that has shaped me into the person I am now and the person I will be going into med school. When I first started volunteering for Hospice, I had just started taking a course in medical anthropology in which we discussed … Continue reading “Learning to Navigate End of Life Care as a Hospice Volunteer”

My time as a hospice volunteer has been incredibly influential and deeply impactful. When I was presented with this opportunity, I applied because I thought it would look good on my medical school applications. However, I quickly realized that I was gaining much more than that. Volunteering through Athena and Compassus taught me many life … Continue reading “Hospice: A Lesson on Appreciating One’s Humanity”

Since starting the Hospice program with Athena, I have learned a lot about what end of life care really is. In September of 2024 I met “Mr. Smith” playing bingo at a table in the lounge of his senior living facility. It had been awhile since I had interacted with someone of his age, especially … Continue reading “Finding The Joy Again”

This past year, I have had the pleasure of visiting “Sarah”, a hospice patient with Alzheimer’s disease. Learning of her diagnosis was scary to learn at first, as I have a grandmother who has Alzheimer’s, and she can be very aggressive as a result. I was also warned that Sarah Alzheimer’s can make her aggressive. … Continue reading “Hospice doesn’t mean hopeless”

When I think of my most meaningful patient relationship, I think of my first patient, “Jane Doe”, who had a gentle soul but powerful presence. The first time we met, I leaned in to hear her ask for my name, and after I introduced myself, she responded with a warm smile. For the remainder of … Continue reading “Healing with Humanity”

During my time volunteering with the Athena Hospice Program, I have been paired with only one patient. I have had the opportunity to make weekly visits to this same patient over the course of the semester and I feel like I have truly gotten to know this individual and make an impact, however small, on … Continue reading “The Beauty of Life”

The first thing that came out of my mouth every Friday at 3 pm was, “Hey “Joseph”, what are you working on today?” Little did I know that behind that bathroom door lay a world of colorful glass and profound wisdom, waiting to shape my understanding of life and purpose. “Joseph”, a 93-year-old man I … Continue reading “Through the Stained Glass: Lessons in Life and Purpose from Hospice Care”

The ability to make a connection with someone and listen to their story, passions, and experiences has always been a favorite of mine. Though my time with my patient “Thomas” was short, it was one of my favorite experiences of this school year. “Thomas” was a wonderful and caring soul! The love and energy he … Continue reading “Year-End Reflection”

“Mom, I’m going to be a hospice volunteer next year.” I was met with worried eyes and a solemn face. “’Mira’, isn’t that going to be burdensome? I mean, you’ll have to deal with death.” Yes, but so does everyone. When I decided to become a hospice volunteer, I knew that it certainly wouldn’t be … Continue reading “The Conclusion”