Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: hospice volunteer

  • The unsung heroes

    Julia AngkeowBel Air, Maryland, United States The unsung heroes of hospice are the family members and friends who are there to console their loved ones when all others have gone to bed. They are the ones who never rest, constantly brooding over how to best mitigate their loved ones’ pain, and ensure that their final…

  • Ushers of life

    Genevieve KupskyWashington, D.C., USA “You are on holy ground. Time is sacred, and the veil is thin.” The chaplain left the newly-oriented volunteers with these words as we completed our training. My mind was spinning with the implications of this experience. Each patient we interacted with would have a prognosis of six months to live…