Hospice Volunteer Experiences

On my first day as a volunteer for Hope Hospice, I visited a spirited patient named Martha. Admittedly, I felt nervous when I inititally arrived. Although my job as a CNA has exposed me to hospice, my experiences are limited. I was afraid of saying the wrong thing, or not having enough to talk about. But almost immediately, it was apparent we had one common connection- Faith.

Martha has lived her life faithfully as a Jehovah's witness, and her eyes fill with joy whenever this is discussed. Relatively uneducated on this religion, I asked questions, and she happily answered what she could. It was clear that this faith carried her, and provided a sense of peace that nothing else could compare to.

We talked about Heaven, and refleced on her favorite bible passage, A New Heaven and a New Earth (Revelation 21: 1-6). As a Christian myself, I felt great admiration for the faith that Martha treasured. Death is inevitable, but Martha's hope never fades. It touched me how sincere her beliefs were, and I left feeling very content with my first experience as a volunteer. Many view hospice as dark and depressing, but Martha was just the opposite. She helped show me that even thouh the end of life is coming, it is possible for your hope and faith to remain steady.