It feels just like yesterday that I visited my first hospice patient in the hospital. I can attest that it was one of the most nerve wracking experiences I had undergone. I felt like there were certain things that I had to say, and I had to say them at the right times in order … Continue reading “More Than A Patient”
Program Year Ending: 2020
Program Year ending 2020
Making Music and Becoming Human
My time in the Memory Unit of my local hospice was absolutely transformational. I was fortunate enough to volunteer with two musicians, so we formed a musical trio and performed for some of the patients. It was astounding to see music’s power in these moments. Unfortunately, these people were losing or had lost many of … Continue reading “Making Music and Becoming Human”
Minimizing Loneliness
With all that has been going on in the world with coronavirus, I have had a lot of time to think about what makes life so meaningful. I have come to the conclusion that one of the most important things in my life is human interaction. The past few weeks, despite feeling like I am … Continue reading “Minimizing Loneliness”
A Celebration of Life
There comes a time when everyone must reflect on their past. Whether it be in the face of a challenge or at the end of life, we can find ourselves dwelling on our failures or reliving joyous moments. Fortunately, many of us are able to extract meaning and impactful lessons from our past, and this … Continue reading “A Celebration of Life”
Grapling with Death: The Bigger Picture
The pre-med hospice volunteer program has reduced and reshaped my fear of death. Coming into the program, I knew that my fear of death was irrational since it is inevitable. I was scared nonetheless because it is unknown. My religion, Christianity, does offer some comfort (as most religions do) but it does not completely eliminate … Continue reading “Grapling with Death: The Bigger Picture”
Accepting My Ignorance
I wanted to volunteer for a hospice program after reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. Before reading that book, I believed that a good life was a long life and that the role of doctors was to extend the life of their patients. I had never considered what a good death was or what it … Continue reading “Accepting My Ignorance”
How “Toby’s” Lessons of Patience and Kindness Will Shape the Doctor I Hope to Become
When I first met Toby, he was quietly seated alone in his room, barely watching the overly loud television playing in the background. The moment the volunteer coordinator and I walked in, his face lit up and maintained a smile for the entirety of our hour long visit. Even as we left, this man who … Continue reading “How “Toby’s” Lessons of Patience and Kindness Will Shape the Doctor I Hope to Become”
On Fleeting Commitments and Dying Well
On the morning of February 15th, on the way to the hospice center I had been volunteering at, I remembered a story the abbot of Mettavaranam Monastery told. He recounts that when he made his last visit to the Venerable Suvaco, who was nearing death and suffering from dementia due to brain damage, Ven. Suvaco … Continue reading “On Fleeting Commitments and Dying Well”
The Sun Will Always Set
When signing up to be a hospice volunteer, I thought I would be helping others. However, there are many ways that the pre-med hospice volunteer program has helped me. I have worked in several patient care settings, including a personal care facility and an oncology unit in a hospital. In these settings, I have been … Continue reading “The Sun Will Always Set”
Learning the Difference between Constructive and Productive
A visiting speaker once advised me to find a purpose in life, then figure out how to get there, rather than choose a career then figure out what to do with it. He happened to be a doctor who gave up practice to found a global health charity, but he says he began with the … Continue reading “Learning the Difference between Constructive and Productive”