My experience with the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program has been overwhelmingly positive. I have been blessed with wonderful patients to work with as well as supportive and inspiring mentors to learn from. Upon assuming this position, I was, admittedly, very nervous. I had no prior experience with hospice care and no idea what it would be like. I anticipated emotional hardships to arise within such a sensitive field of medicine and worried how I would handle them. However, I quickly came to understand that death, while inevitably sad, can be incredibly humane. I learned that bringing peace and comfort to end-of-life care is a beautiful thing, and I felt honored to be in a position where I could facilitate that for someone else, especially someone to whom I was growing close.
My individual work with patients has changed how I approach difficult conversations and situations – an unavoidable part of life. I am much more comfortable asking questions about hard things, such as beloved family members of my patient’s past. I am also much less thrown off by unexpected happenings, whether it be a quick change of plans during a patient visit due to a rise of emotions or having to take care of a patient not feeling so well. This change has made it more apparent that my role in patient care is to be calm and engaged. It is to provide a listening ear and a stable presence, unmoving with the patient’s ups and downs. My personal and professional lives are positively shaped by this growth, allowing me to approach difficult situations with stability and a listening ear.
My experience has so far been most impacted by a patient I visited for about a month and a half. She loved art, struggled with dementia, and passed around the holidays. From her visits, I learned the value in simple, unwavering companionship and care. She struggled with schizophrenia that worsened throughout the second half of her life. Long before I knew her, her condition made her paranoid, untrusting of most people, and therefore, unable to get help. After years of living like this, she moved into a senior living facility where she met the caregiver who stayed with her until the end, and who I was lucky enough to work with. This caregiver broke through our patient’s fears and suspicions with patience and persistence. By simply being there for her and surrounding her with calm, unconditional love, she changed the course of her patient’s life. She made the end of her patient’s life a happy one. Through my patient and her caregiver, I learned you don’t have to do anything special or mind-blowing in a single visit. Simply showing up day after day and providing a constant presence is sometimes all that is needed to change someone’s life and bring them peace.
As I apply to medical schools, the lessons I’ve learned and people I’ve met through this program will strongly influence my writing and conversations. I’ve learned about the power of emotional support as well as the importance of ensuring comfort and dignity in end-of-life care. These appreciations will be evident in my applications, and I expect them to benefit me throughout the process. I feel very privileged to have had this opportunity and am looking forward to continuing this work until my graduation.