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. However, I felt it was important to give her the opportunity to receive care and companionship because everyone deserves companionship, no matter their personality or their diagnosis. I am so glad I did as she turned out to be the sweetest woman. Every week I would visit her for a couple of hours, and she would always get so excited to see me. I would talk with her about her life, her family, and her worries. I would even paint her nails when she asked. Sarah has taught me how to approach patients with kindness and unconditional positive regard, no matter their background. She has made me more patient, kind, and optimistic, and I am looking forward to continue visiting her every week until she no longer needs me.
After working closely with Sarah, I feel I have become a more patient person. I am usually someone who likes to be very efficient and doesn’t like to waste time, but after sitting with her every week, I have learned to appreciate the act of taking time for oneself and not rushing through life. This has only made me more excited to pursue patient-centered care, because we get to learn so much from each other and it can change us for the better. I have taken more time to connect with my peers and family, and I do not worry as much that I am wasting time; instead I cherish the time I take to connect with others and do things in my life that make me happy. For that I will always be grateful to my patient for teaching me the benefits of slowing down.
From this program, I have gained valuable patient-care exposure and experience, and I have gotten the opportunity to make deep connections with the patients I visited, which is very rare for a pre-med program or opportunity. I have gained resilience as well, because hospice is not always an easy or cheerful experience. However, I was able to learn how to find the joy and the light, even in the hardest times for my patient. I learned how even just being there for her and holding her hand was enough. I didn’t always have to have an answer or solution for her, just kindness and companionship. This program has prepared me well for my future as a physician, as I have experienced the harder parts of being a doctor (such as losing a patient or watching them be in pain), and I have learned how to be there for my patient no matter what. I am excited for what the future holds, and I know wherever I go I will treat my future patients with the kindness, humility, compassion, and empathy that I have learned through this wonderful experience and program.