To put this experience into words proves difficult, simply because I’ve learned a lifetime of experience in just a few months. I think the best way to do so would be to explain who my first patient was, and how she transformed my perspective of the world of medicine. “Caroline” and I had a very … Continue reading “How I Learned a Lifetime in 8 Months”
Category: Athena Hospice Program
this is for posts in the category of Athena Hospice
A Year in Memory
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 … Continue reading “A Year in Memory”
Hospice Care: A Transformative Experience
Being a volunteer in the Athena Hospice program has been a transformative experience for me in my life. It has undoubtedly shaped my aspirations, furthering my desire to pursue a career in medicine. In the realm of healthcare, it is the human connection that truly defines the practice of medicine. Each interaction with a patient … Continue reading “Hospice Care: A Transformative Experience”
The Joy of Conversation
The Power and Joy of Connections As an Athena hospice volunteer, I have recently visited a few patients. Each has left me with beautiful memories I will never forget. However, due to their conditions or disposition, the process brought many obstacles and hurdles to each. My first patient was unresponsive primarily for the first couple … Continue reading “The Joy of Conversation”
coffee and carrying on
I see healthcare as a human right so volunteering at Hospice was my way of investing into the Baltimore community. In my medical career, I want to work with at risk and often neglected populations. The first resident I formed a unique connection with was Fernando: he liked smoking, sugar and baseball. He was from … Continue reading “coffee and carrying on”
Dying: A Ten-Year Reflection
At twenty-years-old the AHN Hospice Program gave me my first medical volunteering position, but I was ten-years-old when I had my first experience with end-of-life care. Then, everything under the umbrella of healthcare fell under two categories: wounds bandages, ice cubes, and my parents’ kisses could fix, and “the hospital.” Nasal cannulas and IV wires … Continue reading “Dying: A Ten-Year Reflection”
My Experience Volunteering for Hospice
Unfortunately, I was not assigned a patient throughout my time as a volunteer at Athena Institute Hospice. Consequently, I can not write about any Hospice related patient interactions. Nonetheless, I am able to reflect on some meaningful information that I learned over the course of the program. For instance, learning about hospice care through the … Continue reading “My Experience Volunteering for Hospice”
Reflections on my hospice experience: A call for healthcare that is more human
This past school year, I had the opportunity to temporarily join “Julia” as she navigates declining health and increasing separation from the kind of life she formerly led. I came to know “Julia” as a reserved, soft-spoken, mellow individual, surrounded by a loving family. Upon arriving at her room for our weekly visits, a cup … Continue reading “Reflections on my hospice experience: A call for healthcare that is more human”
2022-2023 Hospice experience
Hospice Reflection Date: 5/1/23 I remembered opening my email that weekend three weeks ago. As usual, I was looking whether the list of patients for today’s visit, assigned by my supervisor, had arrived. When I opened the inbox that contained the list, there was only one patient to visit, but it was a patient I … Continue reading “2022-2023 Hospice experience”
A Patient’s Top Support System: The Importance of Hospice Volunteering
I got assigned to “Patient X” in October of 2022. I feel extremely lucky to have gotten to meet, talk to and develop a relationship with “Patient X”. One hobby that both of us have in common is the joy of reading. Every time I visit him, I will either talk with him about books … Continue reading “A Patient’s Top Support System: The Importance of Hospice Volunteering”