Volunteers

In the last week of March, 2007, my grandma went to the emergency room with severe stomach cramps. Shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with a progressive form of lung cancer and passed away 21 days later, on April 18, 2007. During those three weeks I was able to see my family come together to comfort Granny Jean, and each other, in a way I had never seen. The trips I made from Athens to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta are something that I will never forget.

After my grandma passed away, I encountered a multitude of feelings: grief, guilt, anger, sadness, vulnerability… just to name a few. At the same time, however, I was proud of my family. I was proud of the way we helped to heal each other, the way we came together during our time of hardship to comfort, love, and just be with each other. About a week after her funeral I had an epiphany: there are people and families who don’t have the same support system that my grandmother did. I stopped and thought what it would’ve been like for her to die alone. Or what it would’ve been like for my grandfather, mother, and uncle to lose my grandmother without anyone to comfort them. Knowing that I could help another person or family at the time when they needed it the most and not doing it was something that I couldn’t live with. This is why I decided to become a hospice volunteer.

Since volunteering with VistaCare, I’ve learned a lot about myself and people in general. Being amongst another grieving family and spending time with someone who is terminally ill has helped me put life in perspective and judge what’s important and what’s not. I’ve come to appreciate time spent with friends and loved ones as something that’s a privilege, not a guarantee. When you’re with someone who is dying, you’ll notice that they have an almost ethereal certainty about life. They take each day one at a time with no pretension, and make a conscious effort to enjoy the little things. This is a quality that I strive to emulate in my own life. Each week, I’m able to leave my patient’s room with a sense of pride, knowing that I’ve made a difference in someone’s life. Not many 20 year olds can say this and truly mean it with the same gravity that I do.

Becoming a hospice volunteer was a choice I made two years after the death of a friend. She was diagnosed with cancer, and after a long year her battle came to an end. This was life changing to say the least. I grieved for two years before I realized how me just being there as a friend helped her and her family.

I was once told that love is an action, not a feeling, so I decided to take action and volunteer with hospice, because I knew for me this was the best way I could show my love towards others. I put my heart into working with my patients and this experience is proving itself to be like none other. During the first meeting we meet as strangers, but soon we find a friendship building, trust growing, and love evolves. What an amazing experience when they look at you, grab your hand, and smile…My heart melts every time. That is their way of saying “Thank you” and “I love you” without words. You are reminded everyday how precious life really is. You are reminded what is really important in life. Each person we meet becomes a part of your family, and if only for a little while, we are a part of theirs.

My hope in working with my patients is that I can somehow make their last days as bright, loving, memorable, happy, and comfortable as possible. The greatest give we can give to anyone is the gift of love.

I went into hospice wanting to give, never expecting anything in return. The life lessons, the camaraderie we develop, and what it means to be truly beautiful – These are things I will carry with me forever. Each patient is different, but each has a story of love, determination, grace, and happiness. It is an honor to be able to be apart of their lives.

I made the decision to volunteer when I was in the process of losing my mother. I found that helping others with their grief helped me with mine.

Becoming a hospice volunteer is the next natural step in my life. Just as we are born, live and die, my progression as a human being has led me to VistaCare.

Klevor and I are VistaCare hospice volunteers because working with terminally ill patients is a very rewarding experience. Klevor is very attuned to connecting with the patients and families we visit. He is a very gentle and loving dog, and will even tolerate having his tail rolled over by a wheelchair. Klevor instinctively knows these are people he can help through touch and companionship. Through the smiles of the patients and families we meet, I know we are helping to provide a moment of warmth at a very difficult time in people’s lives.

I sort of got drafted into VistaCare. I was volunteering at a local nursing home and one of the VistaCare nurses suggested that I volunteer. I was impressed with the people at VistaCare and felt that I would fit in well. I have met some wonderful people. Some people think it would be depressing to work with hospice patients. I have my “pat answer”. Sure, you do make friends and miss them when they are gone, but you have made their lives happier while they were still here, and that is what matters. I have found VistaCare staff very caring.

Last year, I had my dog, Max, certified to make the (hospice) visits with me. The smiles we get are not just from the patients, but the staff as well. A dog can touch people of all ages in a way that humans cannot.