I was lucky enough to be with my patient throughout the entirety of the semester. Although she rarely remembered my name and the details of my background, I could tell that she recognized my face and was happy to see me. This recognition and appreciation of my presence made this experience incredibly worthwhile, especially because … Continue reading “A New Perspective”
Category: Athena Hospice Program
this is for posts in the category of Athena Hospice
My Hospice Experience
During my time at Villanova, I sought an interdisciplinary education focused on multiculturalism in order to become a well-rounded medical professional. My background in Cultural Studies and Healthcare Ethics contribute to my broad understanding of cultural difference. These experiences have helped me to be knowledgeable and affable around many different types of people and in … Continue reading “My Hospice Experience”
She had worked in a nursing home for a significant portion of her life
I only knew Mrs. T for a short time before she passed. My knowledge of her was constrained to such a small context. I knew Mrs. T as someone who enjoyed sitting in the sunroom just by the nurse’s station, as someone who was not afraid to ask for a hug, and as someone who … Continue reading “She had worked in a nursing home for a significant portion of her life”
I immensely enjoyed doing my best to bring comfort to the patients I visited
At the beginning of this program, I was unsure of exactly what to expect. I was passionate about gaining experience with a different aspect of medicine. Death is not commonly discussed, especially at the undergraduate level, but is an inherent part of life, and of life-saving. During the training and orientation prior to the volunteering, … Continue reading “I immensely enjoyed doing my best to bring comfort to the patients I visited”
My experiences reaffirmed my desire to be “a really weird doctor”
I always knew that the patients in hospice would pass away. After all, that’s why they were admitted to the program. But it was still a shock to me when I heard that ‘Mabel’ died before I could visit her as I had planned to do the next day. I had realized from our last … Continue reading “My experiences reaffirmed my desire to be “a really weird doctor””
Death should not prevent a physician from interacting and giving emotional support to a patient
I was often told that one of the hardest challenges a medical practitioner will face is the death of their patients. A physician must accept that no matter how skilled they are or how hard they try, there will be a number of patients that they cannot save. This grim reality did not deter me … Continue reading “Death should not prevent a physician from interacting and giving emotional support to a patient”
Death as a process that is inherently social and quite active.
I have come to appreciate death as a process that is inherently social, and one that is quite active. As a hospice volunteer, my presence is not constant, but regular. And in this time, I have come to appreciate my relationship with the hospice patient—no matter how strong—as one that places me in the process … Continue reading “Death as a process that is inherently social and quite active.”
Hospice patients wish to be treated as the living, not as the dying.
When asked to summarize my feelings towards my hospice experience in a poem or in a few sentences, this is what came to my mind: While hospice, in the sense of time, is the precursor to death, hospice is a moment to celebrate life, a time to reflect, remember or forget, grieve, say goodbye. It … Continue reading “Hospice patients wish to be treated as the living, not as the dying.”
The relationship I built with her is one that I will value and remember forever
The relationship that I developed with Mary through the Pre-med Hospice Program is one that I will never forget. For most of this school year, I looked forward to visiting Mary at Devon Manor. Every week, I would walk into her room and see her warm smile. She was so excited to have a visitor, … Continue reading “The relationship I built with her is one that I will value and remember forever”