I had the pleasure of two different patients and they were quite different. My first patient whom I spent my first semester with was sweet, but I did have a difficult time having conversations with her. She has dementia which leads to our conversations being relatively short and it being difficult for her to maintain the topics about which we spoke. While it was difficult at times to have visits that were an hour, I do think the experience was very informative about the harder aspects of caring for a patient with dementia and determining what ways would make his or her life easier. I had another patient that I started meeting with toward the end of the first semester and into the second semester. She and I had a very different relationship. Our talks were very reciprocative, and it did not feel as difficult to speak with her. Additionally, we were able to crochet together which was nice. I think it was more enlightening when speaking to her because she could verbalize her frustrations with the limitations she felt with age. While crocheting was fine at times, there were moments when my second patient would want to stop because she felt incapable of doing the activity. I think I felt more sadness with my interactions with her.
The program has given me many positive memories and also has allowed me to look at medicine from a more solemn perspective. I think some of the reasons why I would like to become an OB/GYN is because I want to share the happiest moments with people while being able to take care of their health. I do think I try to avoid heavier topics such as death and end of life, but this program has opened my eyes to different ways of viewing the end of someone’s life without it having to be something sad. There are different angles to view death which is definitely what I have been able to do.
I would highly recommend hospice volunteering before medical school. I think knowing all the facets of caring for another person is poignant in one’s medical journey. Hospice volunteering is an experience that can not be done in any other way.