During my time volunteering with the Athena Hospice Program, I have been paired with only one patient. I have had the opportunity to make weekly visits to this same patient over the course of the semester and I feel like I have truly gotten to know this individual and make an impact, however small, on their life. Although most of our interactions are fairly simple, usually made up of small-talk and little jeopardy or word games with some of the other residents, each and every visit has been incredibly rewarding for me – both personally and professionally as I look to the future of medical school.
I feel as though I have definitely grown for the better throughout this experience volunteering with Athena Hospice. Spending time with and around individuals who are nearing the end of their lives has enabled a very important form of self-reflection for me. I feel like I have gained not only a shift in perspective in how to approach patient care, but also in an understanding of life in and of itself.
While I have long-since been aware of the importance of doctor-patient relationships, I think that the visits with my patients have really allowed me to see the importance of patient well-being in a new light. Because most patients under Hospice care are suffering from chronic illness and are therefore nearing the end of their lives, the emphasis becomes about their state of mental and emotional being to the same extent as, and maybe even more so, their state of physical being. In this way, patient care is centered less on “treatment” and “healing” in the more classically-medical definitions of the terms, and revolves more on maintaining the highest and most fulfilling quality of life possible with their time remaining. I think this is extremely important, because it shifts the medical narrative to truly being about the patient’s well-being, as opposed to the many other factors that sometimes may afflict doctor-patient relationships.
Additionally, this entire experience has equipped me with a newfound grasp on the fragility but also on the beauty of life. Although my patient is generally fairly quiet, they have shared a few stories with me over the course of our visits. And every time they do, especially when recalling fond memories of their younger days or describing loved ones whom they hold close, they grow especially joyful and nostalgic. This has really made me see the value of life and everything it has to offer. It has made me grateful and appreciative of my own friends and family, and has evolved my outlook on what it means to find genuine fulfillment in each and every moment I share with them. Overall, these past few months of visits to my patient have been beyond rewarding, and I feel so lucky to have gotten to know them and for all they have taught me. I will undoubtedly never forget this experience and will carry its lessons with me long into the future.